Riverview holds the line on taxes, no program or staff cuts in next school year's budget

Riverview School District officials held the line on real estate taxes without furloughs or programs cuts in next school year’s budget.

School directors unanimously adopted the 2020-21 spending plan via Monday night’s virtual meeting.

“It’s been very hard work as you can imagine,” said Maureen McClure, board member and finance chairwoman. “We don’t know for how much longer we can hold on (without raising taxes or furloughing). Nobody wants to do that. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

The budget is balanced with revenues and expenditures totaling about $24.12 million.

District officials plan to pull from an estimated $1.78 million unassigned reserve fund to fill a projected $115,000 shortfall.

State funding is a concern for school districts across the commonwealth due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Riverview’s revenue from state sources was listed at about $6.72 million.

“They have some very good forecasters at the state,” McClure said. “Hopefully, all will be well. Everybody has to base their projections on something. If they’re projections are wrong, they need to revisit it.”

Superintendent Peggy DiNinno commended the board and administrators for their hard work with the financial planing and maintaining students’ educational opportunities. The budget will be available for review at the district office and online beginning July 1.

Riverview raised taxes about 1.16% and kept programs status quo in the current school year’s budget.

The board named PNC Bank, Key Bank and PLGIT as depositories for next school year.

Other approvals for 2020-21 include Linda Tamburro as board treasurer, David Zolkowski as federal programs administrator and Neil English as district liaison for homeless children and youths.