By Petra Chesner Schlatter; BucksLocalNews.com

The current Pennsbury School Board on Nov. 12 discussed whether to direct the administration to develop an early preliminary budget with the intent to start working toward a 2.9-mill increase or zero tax increase in the 2010-2011 budget.

If the board decides Nov. 19 to do that, they would be changing the process and timing of the budget preparation.

Long-time board member Richard Johnson, who lost his bid for re-election this month, said he would put a motion on the table at the Nov. 19 meeting, calling for a 2.9-mill increase or less. The highest increase allowed by the state is 2.9 mills.

Normally, this kind of action would not occur so early. The board, as required by the state, will not adopt a final budget until late June 2010.

In his 10 years on the board, Johnson said he remembers the administration "presenting a budget, which in many ways is a wish list." Normally, the administration's proposed preliminary budget is pared down.

"We should start off with a realistic budget...Why go through this exercise, when in the end, the board will have to make decisions at the end?" he said.

Johnson said his "intent is to have a motion to start off within certain parameters."

Paul Long, CEO of Pennsbury School District, said the administration presents a preliminary budget later which "would maintain the curriculum and programs."

The base budget is presented based on what the school district needs, he said.

Long said making cuts in expenditures are a "dilemma" when developing a budget. He noted in the last budget that about 30 less positions exist because of cuts.

The final budget, Johnson noted, "is severely diminished, sometimes requiring program changes."

Johnson said there should be an agenda item for the Nov. 19 meeting to instruct the administration to prepare a budget for the 2010-2011 year whose impact on taxes will not exceed the state mandate and will approach zero."

"It is a waste of everyone's time to create a budget with things that are never gong to see the light of day," Johnson said. He called for a budget with "a very narrow parameter."

Johnson said last minute decisions on the budget are not good and he said they "ought to be thought out over a longer period of time."

Long-time board member Arlene Gordon, who lost her seat on the board in the recent election, argued the board needs "to make decisions" about what is being cut.

Gene Dolnick, a board member, cautioned that more discussion was needed. He reminded the board of last year's community budget meetings held in different neighborhoods. People, he said, should have the opportunity to participate in the budget process.

Board member-elect Simon Campbell said he liked Johnson's idea to have the administration present a budget with a 2.9-mills increase or less. Campbell asserted when the new board is sworn into office on Dec. 7, they should have the chance to discuss the issue.

Campbell said the administration should give the new board "all of the information - all that they did so nothing is hidden." He said the new board would have "a clear expectation from the outset."

The future board member said the process should be "revamped."

Campbell said if the board "sticks to a certain budget, that is a message to the negotiating team."

Campbell said he wants to be part of the vote and creating the budget once he takes his seat on the board.

Whatever the discussion, Campbell asked that the current board to table a vote until Dec. 7.

If approved, Johnson's motion would mean the school administration would start working on a 2.9-mills or less increase.

Campbell said the new board "will play a part in shaping next year's budget" and that way the "new members would have a chance to voice their opinion." He stressed the new board members would have a vote after Dec. 7.

"It's really all about who has the ability to vote before and after Dec. 7," Campbell said.