2015-2016 Budget Information
OUR School District…OUR Children
Excellent and
Award-winning
Educational
Programs
This helps to
maintain and
increase
property
values
We achieve this
through
a serious and
balanced
approach
to year-round
fiscal
responsibility
1
Budget Process
 At all times during the process, the
goal is to maintain the highest quality
of excellence in our educational
program for our students as possible.
Our students’ needs come first!
2
Executive Summary
78% of the District’s revenue is generated at the local level. 92% of the local revenue
is from annual real estate taxes. The average annual tax bill will increase by $91. The
Act 1 Index for the District is 1.9%. The 2015-2016 tax increase will not exceed
1.9%. Rose Tree Media continues to have one of the lowest millage rates in Delaware
County. Over the past five years, the District has had the third lowest millage rate.
Recent tax appeals have been a challenge. However, potential future tax growth
could be in the near future as a result of the transformation of the Granite Run mall
and property developments in Middletown and Edgmont townships.
Salaries and benefits comprise 70% of District expenditures. The PSERS retirement
rate will increase to 25.84% from the current rate of 21.40%. The budget includes the
addition of a .2 Chinese teaching position, .4 music teaching position, three
elementary teaching positions, one special education teaching position and one
special education assistant position due to increased enrollment. It also includes the
reduction of a maintenance supervisor position and a reduction in salaries as a result
of an early retirement incentive program. The District has enrolled in a high
deductible medical health care plan in an effort to reduce costs. A new four year
teacher’s contract was approved in 2014-2015 as well as a one year support staff
contract. The addition of CNG buses to the District’s fleet will reduce costs and
provide a cleaner environment for everyone in the community. The District continues
to look for ways to improve efficiencies and cut costs.
Sources of Revenue
Revenue is comprised of four sources: local, state, federal and fund balance.
Local revenue sources include real estate taxes, Per Capita taxes, tuitions,
earnings on investments and miscellaneous revenue.
State revenue sources include state subsidies for Basic Education Funding, Special
Education, and Transportation, State Property Tax Relief, Reimbursement for Social
Security and Retirement payments.
Federal revenue source consists of Title I & II and ACCESS funds that have
restricted uses.
Fund balance is the difference between assets and liabilities and results when
revenues are greater than expenditures. It’s often referred to as a savings account,
but does not consist of only cash.
The Act 1 Index
The Act 1 Index is a result of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 2006, which established limits on tax increases. The
Index is calculated based on the percentage of increase in the State Wide Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) and
the percentage increase in the national Education Cost Index (ECI). The SAWW is determined by the
Department of Labor and Industry in the same manner as the Unemployment Compensation Law and it is
calculated on the previous calendar year. The ECI is also based on the previous 12-month period beginning
July 1st through June 30th using Elementary and Secondary school data reported by the Bureau of Labor and
Statistics.
*SAWW calculation changed by Act 6 of 2011 to a 36-month from 12-month
Fiscal Year
SAWW
ECI
SAWW % +
ECI
%+
Base Index
15/16
14/15
$919 $898
121
119
2.4% 2.6%
1.4% 1.6%
1.9% 2.1%
*13/14
$875
117
2.0%
1.4%
1.7%
12/13
11/12
$872
$855
116
114
2.1%
0.9%
1.3%
1.9%
1.7%
1.4%
10/11
09/10
08/09
07/08
06/07
$847
112
2.7%
3.0%
2.9%
$825
109
4.6%
3.6%
4.1%
$788
105
4.3%
4.5%
4.4%
$756
$735
101
97
2.8%
4.2%
4.0%
3.5%
3.4%
3.9%
Revenue
Act 1 Index vs. RTMSD Increases
6.00%
District's
Increase
5.00%
Act 1 Index
4.00%
3.00%
2.00%
1.00%
0.00%
06/07
07/08
08/09
09/10
10/11
11/12
12/13
13/14
14/15
15/16
Delaware County School District Proposed Mills
Ranked by Mills - June 2014 For 2014-2015
District
William Penn
Wallingford-Swarthmore
Ridley
Chichester
Southeast Delco
Upper Darby
Interboro
Garnet Valley
Springfield
Haverford Twp.
Chester Upland
Penn-Delco
Rose Tree Media
Radnor
Marple Newtown
County Averages
Rank
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Mills
Incr %
Mills
Incr #
Mills
14/15
Mills
13/14
Mills
12/13
3.00%
2.08%
0.32%
1.00%
3.00%
2.30%
1.50%
1.87%
2.25%
3.58%
13.55%
2.50%
1.84%
0.00%
0.00%
2.59%
1.2300
0.8325
0.1250
0.3868
1.1185
0.7780
0.4941
0.5525
0.6604
0.9908
3.4000
0.6310
0.4232
0.0000
0.0000
0.7749
42.2900
40.9445
39.2500
39.0708
38.4034
34.5930
33.4347
30.0940
29.9604
28.6692
28.4900
25.9070
23.3677
21.7122
17.6839
31.5913
41.0600
40.1120
39.1250
38.6840
37.2849
33.8150
32.9406
29.5415
29.3000
27.6784
25.0900
25.2760
22.9445
21.7122
17.6839
30.8165
41.0600
39.3340
38.2500
38.3000
36.8246
32.8500
32.2000
29.0550
28.7300
26.7305
24.4300
24.5490
22.6143
21.8227
17.2199
30.2646
7
Delaware County School District Proposed Mills
Ranked by Percentage - June 2014 for 2014-2015
District
Chester Upland
Haverford Twp.
Southeast Delco
William Penn
Penn-Delco
Upper Darby
Springfield
Wallingford-Swarthmore
Garnet Valley
Rose Tree Media
Interboro
Chichester
Ridley
Radnor
Marple Newtown
County Averages
Rank
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
Mills
Incr %
Mills
Incr #
Mills
14/15
Mills
13/14
Mills
12/13
13.55%
3.58%
3.00%
3.00%
2.50%
2.30%
2.25%
2.08%
1.87%
1.84%
1.50%
1.00%
0.32%
0.00%
0.00%
2.59%
3.4000
0.9908
1.1185
1.2300
0.6310
0.7780
0.6604
0.8325
0.5525
0.4232
0.4941
0.3868
0.1250
0.0000
0.0000
0.7749
28.4900
28.6692
38.4034
42.2900
25.9070
34.5930
29.9604
40.9445
30.0940
23.3677
33.4347
39.0708
39.2500
21.7122
17.6839
31.5913
25.0900
27.6784
37.2849
41.0600
25.2760
33.8150
29.3000
40.1120
29.5415
22.9445
32.9406
38.6840
39.1250
21.7122
17.6839
30.8165
24.4300
26.7305
36.8246
41.0600
24.5490
32.8500
28.7300
39.3340
29.0550
22.6143
32.2000
38.3000
38.2500
21.8227
17.2199
30.2646
8
Assessment – Ten Year History
3,000,000,000
2,950,000,000
2,900,000,000
2,850,000,000
2,800,000,000
2,750,000,000
2,700,000,000
2,650,000,000
2,600,000,000
Revenue Budget Comparison
14/15
15/16
Major Object
Budget Amount
Budget Amount
$ Incr/Decr
% Incr/Decr
Local
69,991,873
70,871,407
879,414
1.26%
State
13,155,632
14,177,639
1,022,127
7.77%
664,100
627,500
-36,600
-5.51%
3,502,652
4,565,459
1,062,807
30.34%
87,314,257
90,242,005
2,927,748
3.35%
Federal
Fund Balance
Total
Revenue Summary
ROSE TREE MEDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
15/16 REVENUE BUDGET BY OBJECT
State
16%
Federal
1%
Use of Fund
Balance
5%
Local
78%
Federal Revenue
Federal Source
Budget Amount
% of Total
Title I
225,000
36%
Title II
100,000
16%
Access
302,500
48%
627,500
100%
State Revenue
State Source
Budget Amount
% of Total
Basic Education Subsidy
2,707,966
19.10%
Special Education Funding
1,800,000
12.70%
Transportation
1,200,000
8.46%
Property Tax Relief
1,633,131
11.52%
Social Security Subsidy
1,486,814
10.49%
Retirement Subsidy
5,022,128
35.42%
327,600
2.31%
Other
14,177,639
100.00%
Local Revenue
Local Source
Real Estate Tax
Transfer Tax
Delinquent Taxes
Current Per Capita
Tuition
Earnings on Investments
Rentals/Other
Budget Amount
% of Total
65,402,287
92.28%
900,000
1.27%
1,500,000
2.12%
364,000
0.51%
1,200,000
1.69%
60,000
0.08%
1,445,120
2.04%
70,871,407
100.0%
Key Facts and Figures of the Revenue Budget.
-- Key Points - 1 millage point (mill) is equal to approximately $2.79 million
 Act 1 Index is 1.9%
 2013-2014 Homestead exemption $211
 2014-2015 Homestead exemption $213
 2015-2016 Homestead exemption $217
 Average homeowner assessment is $206,875
 Average homeowner tax bill in 2015-2016 is $4,925
 Increase in average homeowner tax bill for 2015-2016 is $91
 The use of $4.5 million in fund balance
 The Increase in state revenue was due to the rising PSERS rate,
however other state revenue was level funded.
 Decrease in assessment value due to tax appeals
15
Expenditure Budget for 2015-2016 is $90,242,005
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education expenditures are
categorized by objects and functions.
Functions
 1000 Instruction-regular, special, vocational, alternative education programs
and the Delaware County Community College
 2000 Support Services-guidance, administration, student health, business,
operations and maintenance, student transportation, staff and technology
services
 3000 Operations of Non-Instructional Services-athletics, student activities,
and community services
 5000 Other Expenditures and Financing Uses-debt service, fund transfers,
and budgetary reserve
16
Expenditure Comparison by Function
14/15
Expense Function
Instructional Programs
Budget Amount
15/16
Budget Amount
$
%
Incr/Decr
Incr/Decr
47,559,621
50,086,860
2,527,239
5.31%
Instr Support Svcs
7,723,263
7,981,950
258,687
3.35%
Admin
4,329,018
4,351,130
22,112
0.51%
730,050
773,401
43,351
5.94%
Business Svcs
1,181,274
1,234,091
52,817
4.47%
Opn & Maint
7,719,720
7,742,887
23,167
0.30%
Transportation
5,488,138
5,518,412
30,274
0.55%
Central Support Svcs
1,055,662
1,076,938
21,276
2.02%
Student Activities
1,483,352
1,565,104
81,752
5.51%
Debt Service
8,571,806
8,717,879
146,073
1.70%
Other Expenses
1,472,353
1,193,353
-279,000
-18.95%
87,314,257
90,242,005
2,927,748
3.35%
Pupil Health
Total
Expenditure Comparison by Function
ROSE TREE MEDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
15/16 BUDGET EXPENSES BY FUNCTION
Other Expenses
Debt Service
1.3%
9.7%
Student Activities
1.7%
Central Support
Svcs
1.2%
Transportation
6.1%
Opn & Maint
8.6%
Instructional Pgm
55.5%
Business Svcs
1.4%
Pupil Health
0.9%
Admin
4.8%
Instr Support Svcs
8.8%
Expenditure Budget for 2015-2016
In accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education expenditures are
categorized by objects and functions.
Objects
 Salaries - wages for all school district employees
 Benefits - health care, tuition reimbursement, retirement and social security
 Contracted Professional Services – tuition to the Intermediate Unit, legal and
auditing services
 Purchased Property Services - utilities, repairs, leases and rentals.
 Other Purchased Services - transportation, property insurances, advertising,
tuitions and travel
 Supplies- books, general supplies and natural gas
 Equipment - computers, furniture and vehicles
 Other objects – interest on bonds, dues and fees
 Other Uses of Funds – bond principal and fund transfers
19
Expenditure Comparison by Object
14/15
Major Object
Budget Amount
15/16
Budget Amount
$ Incr/Decr
%Incr/Decr
Salaries
38,622,466
39,854,403
1,231,937
3.19%
Employee Benefits
21,939,496
23,963,428
2,023,932
9.23%
Contr Prof. Svc
3,951,124
3,712,092
(239,032)
-6.05%
Purch Property Svcs
3,152,818
3,468,110
315,292
10.00%
Other Purchased Svcs
6,052,057
5,788,765
(263,292)
-4.35%
Supplies/Books
3,029,031
3,140,200
111,169
3.67%
662,597
513,967
(148,630)
-22.43%
Other Objects
2,917,648
2,737,913
(179,735)
-6.16%
Other Financing Uses
6,987,020
7,063,127
76,107
1.09%
87,314,257
90,242,005
2,927,748
3.35%
Property (Equipment)
Total
Expenditure Comparison by Object
ROSE TREE MEDIA SCHOOL DISTRICT
15/16 BUDGET EXPENSES BY OBJECT
Other Uses of
Funds
7.8%
Other Objects
Property
3.0%
0.6%
Supplies
3.5%
Other Purchased
Services
6.4%
Salaries
44.2%
Purchased
Property Services
3.8%
Purchased Prof. &
Technical Services
4.1%
Benefits
26.6%
Rose Tree Media School District’s
Expenditure Budget for 2015-2016
2015-2016 Expenditures
22
Key Facts of the Expenditure Budget.
-- Key Points - Four Year RTMEA Contract
 One Year ESPA Contract
 The addition of a .2 Chinese teaching position and an additional
.4 music teaching position
 Reduction in staff costs through attrition
 Elimination of a maintenance supervisor position
 Reduction in Health Care Costs through a change in the health care
plan
 Rising PSERS retirement rate
 Maintain Current Program
 Savings through energy efficiencies
23
Summary Budget
Budget Final
Expenditures
2014-2015
Instructional
1000
$47,559,621
$50,086,860
Support Services/
Operations
Non-Instructional Services
Other Financing Services
Totals
2000
28,429,078
28,880,762
3000
5000
1,653,752
9,671,806
$87,314,257
1,706,504
9,567,879
$90,242,005
2014-2015
69,991,873
13,155,632
664,100
$83,811,605
3,502,652
$87,314,257
2015-2016
70,871,407
14,177,639
627,500
$85,676,546
4,565,459
$90,242,005
Budget Final
Local
State
Federal
Sub Totals
Fund Balance
Totals
Revenues
6000
7000
8000
2015-2016
24
Challenges
Tax Appeals
Potential rapid housing developments
Level State Funding
Unfunded Mandates
 Charter School Tuition
 Alternative Education
 Special Education
 PSERS Retirement
 Transportation
 Academic Assessments
 Common Core Costs
Future Retirement Costs
14/15 21.40% $ 8,334,577
15/16 25.84% $10,006,511
16/17 29.27% $11,898,692
17/18 30.25% $12,543,018
18/19 31.28% $13,229,504
25
Highlights
 1.9% Act 1 Index
 2015-2016 Homestead exemption $217
 Average homeowner assessment is $206,079
 Average homeowner tax bill is $4,925 for an annual
increase of $91
 Pending new construction market
 Maintain Current Programs
 Transportation CNG Project
 Recipient of $300,000 DEP grant for the CNG
Transportation Project for 12 additional buses
 An Award Winning District
 Blue Ribbon Schools
 Nationally Ranked High School
26