The Neshaminy School Board approved a final 2023-24 budget June 27 that holds the line on property taxes.
The board voted 8-0 to approve the $202.9 million budget that leaves total millage at 171.23, or $4,786 in annual real estate taxes for a resident with a property assessed at the district average of $27,948. Neshaminy will use $4.3 million of its $23-million fund balance, or surplus, to balance revenue and expenses.
"It's always a struggle to accomplish a balanced budget," board President Tina Hollenbach said.
"There's no increase in taxes and I think that's pretty important," added fellow board member Adam Kovitz. "It's nice to give the taxpayers a break."
In other actions from the meeting, the board approved stipends of $12,500 each for Assistant to the Superintendent/Director of Secondary Education Jason Bowman and Assistant to the Superintendent/Director of Elementary Education Michelle Burkholder. The stipends are in addition to their regular salaries.
Bowman's stipend is for performing the additional duties of substitute superintendent from Feb. 24 through June 30 in the absence of Superintendent Rob McGee. He was placed on administrative leave via vote of the board on Feb. 28, and the district has not provided a public update on McGee's status since then. Workloads for both Bowman and Burkholder also increased because of Assistant Superintendent Paul Meehan being on extended medical leave.
The stated reason for Burkholder's stipend is for "performing additional administrative duties outside the scope of her position as director of elementary education" for the period Jan. 27 through June 30.
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