Divided Greensburg Salem School Board rejects proposed budget

The clock is ticking for Greensburg Salem School District to craft a new preliminary budget after a divided school board rejected a proposal that would have kept taxes flat and eliminated several staff positions.

The 5-4 vote means the board has until the end of May to agree on a new preliminary budget. A final budget must be approved by the end of June.

Business Manager James Dzurica told the school board Wednesday that the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on budget planning. The district is predicting a 3% loss of tax revenue next school year.

“I’ve never been involved in a budget with so much uncertainty over sources of revenue that are usually guaranteed year in and year out,” Dzurica said.

The proposed budget would have furloughed two teachers, eliminating the middle school and elementary school library positions.

It would have eliminated several more positions through attrition, including the elementary school band teacher, tech ed teacher, and community liaison. This would have saved more than $500,000.

Despite this, the proposed budget still projected a deficit of nearly $800,000, though most of that money would be earmarked for large capital projects.

“In good conscience, I don’t think we have this budget where we need it to be,” board member Lynna Thomas said. She said she understands the financial difficulties facing the district but hopes to find a way to pass a budget without eliminating staff.

“We’re also incredibly responsible for providing a comprehensive quality education for our students,” she said.

Board member Frank Gazze, who voted for the proposed budget, said difficult cuts will be necessary to prevent a tax increase.

“We will not pass a tax increase, no matter how we need to get there,” he said.

Board members Brian Conway, Gazze, Ron Mellinger and Stephen Thomas voted for the budget, with Lynn Jobe, Jeff Metrosky, Jonathon O’Brien, Robin Savage and Lynna Thomas voting against it.

Stephen Thomas proposed a budget that would have kept the band teacher and librarians. He said the district does not have enough information about its financial state — such as the amount of money it is saving on transportation and other expenses as a result of the coronavirus closure.

“How much money are we going to save due to the shutdown?” he asked. “And until we know, we can’t make decisions, so don’t ask us to fire people.”

His motion failed.

The board has scheduled a special meeting for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to vote again. In the meantime, the board and administrators will work to craft a new budget.

The district can still make changes to the proposed budget before passing a final version in June.