Harrisburg, Pennsylvania — Former Susquehanna Township School Board Member Clifton Edwards stirred some controversy at the Aug. 5th STSD Board meeting, linked here (at the 1:01:28 min mark).
Edwards addressed the threat of a tax hike looming in order to pay for a new $100M school building, for the district’s growing student enrollment.
The proposed tax hike is going to appear on the Nov. 5th ballot in Susquehanna Township, via a referendum vote.
“Currently, we have 20 modular classrooms due to insufficient capacity in our existing facilities,” a statement on the STSD website reads. “To support the new school’s debt, we require an additional $4 million each year, a sum our current tax increases cannot provide,” per STSD website.
Edwards referenced a letter he sent to the STSD Board, as well as a neutral question he sent to his personal contacts, as follows: “Based on what you know today, would you support the tax referendum in November?” Edwards stopped short of sharing what responses he received; but added: “If the tax referendum doesn’t pass, I fear we’ll go to Plan B.
“Maybe you all know what Plan B is, maybe you don’t; but you’re the Board who are the stewards of our money. And you should know what Plan B is! … if the referendum fails, what will happen??”
FROM THE STSD Website: “Without this increase, students will continue to use modular classrooms, and we may need to add more to manage enrollment growth until we can afford the new debt. We are acquiring 42 acres for the new school, but construction will be delayed until we can ensure we have the financial capacity to repay the debt.”
Edwards highlighted the lack of interest and excitement about the proposed school building, pointing out the room full of empty chairs behind him. Looking at the visible “Hope” sign on the board meeting wall, he said: “We’ve been on the ‘Hope’ journey for 10 years… that’s how long that sign has been there … (but you) see no one there, that should say something to you.”
One board member asked Mr. Edwards if he had any ideas as to how to get more community members involved; but she was stopped by STSD Board President Jesse Rawls, who didn’t want to get into “that debate.”
STSD Superintendent Dr. Tamara Willis addressed Edward’s concerns on the spot. She said: “There are a number of plans; not just a ‘Plan B’ … Even if we continue to increase real estate taxes, it does nothing to cover the $4B in additional debt that this $100M school is going to bring,” so if it fails (the referendum), the option is leave the children in modular units and look at other options for educating them, maybe rental properties. We can’t go blindly into $100M in debt and figure out how to pay for it down the road.”
An unidentified staff person in room, shared his financial insights (at 1:11 min mark) that the tax base in Susquehanna Township has been “stagnant” for years. He said: “The average tax increase in our district has been about 2.5 percent per year; …the 6.4% recent tax increase was driven by Act 1….(and) it directly responds to what’s happening from an inflationary standpoint in our economy.
“Inflation has been at an all-time high, just under 10 percent. That 6.4 percent is to help keep up with impact that inflation has had on school budgets across the state and across the United States.”
It’s unclear what’s driving the growing enrollment; but Harrisburg100 is inquiring with the district. If STSD responds, we will update this article.
The following statement has been listed on the STSD’s website, about the proposed hike:
Harrisburg100 