School budget work is underway

Westfall - The Finance, Budget, and Audit Committee of the Delaware Valley School Board has begun meeting to hear school administrators presentations of needs for the 2006-07 school year. The committee will report on its initial sessions at the regular full board meeting on Feb. 18. Those topics are the district’s financial situation, technology, and special education. The cost of operating the Delaware Valley School District and maintaining its bricks and mortar is expected to top $60 million in the next school year. Addressing drinking water problems at the Dingman-Delaware campus may cost as much as $2 million, Chairman John Fisher noted at a committee meeting. The district is one of Pike County’s major employers and the new budget may total about $60 million. It is $57.3 million in the current school year. According to the district, energy costs, fuel costs, salary and benefits increases costs are factors with which the board must contend. The budget meetings take place on selected Tuesdays at 8 a.m. in the Administration Building on the Westfall Township campus, Routes 6 and 209. Future committee meetings will be held on Feb. 28, March 7, 21, and 28, April 4 and, if necessary, April 25. The final Tuesday meeting will be May 2, according to Fisher’s schedule. The committee will report its recommendations at scheduled work sessions and regular sessions of the full board. The board will vote on tentative approval to the budget at its May 11 board meeting and final adoption will take place June 15. Committee meetings last up to 90 minutes. All are open and the public is invited to attend.