Budget Passage

Hi, as I am sure you will be reading over the next several days schools in Washington County will be passing their preliminary budget.

What this means is that under state law the budget is set for 30 days for anybody in the public to view. Residents can usually review a copy at their local library or request a copy of the budget from their local School District at whatever price the School District may charge (not exceed 25 cents per page)under the Right-to-Know Laws.

From this point forward the Budgeted expenditures can not be increased and the budget must be passed by State law no later than June 30, 2009.

The State, however by amending its budget can require School Districts to re-open their Budgets to pass any new amount of substantial revenue that they may be passing down due to budgetary changes or legislative action.

This has happened only once since 2002 (2003 to be exact). What is interesting to note that while School Districts are required to pass a budget by law no later than June 30th each year the State could due various factor not pass their budget by the same dead-line.

Since Pennsylvania is looking at a 3 billion dollar short fall this year look for the State budget to possibly be passed a little later than usual.