A report by Temple University analyzes all the fiscal health of all 500 of Pennsylvania’s public school districts, and it’s not good news. Sixty percent of the districts in Pennsylvania are projected to run deficits in the next five years, including all but one of Indiana County’s seven school districts.
The new state budget contains a $210 million increase in funding for the state’s schools, but it’s not nearly enough to offset state mandates on education, the need for increased security, and the burdens created by having to fund charter or cyber schools, special education programs, and pensions.
In Indiana County, the report says only Penns Manor is projected to run in the black over the next five years, with a surplus of $166,800. That’s .24 percent.
The largest projected deficit is United’s, which is expected to run about $2.44 million in the red, a 2.38 percent loss. Indiana Area is projected to run a deficit of about $1.6 million (-.66%); Blairsville-Saltsburg is projected to have a deficit of $1.55 million (-1.16%); Purchase Line’s deficit is projected to be $1.17 million (-1.36%); Homer Center is expected to lose $1.048 million (-1.52%); and Marion Center is projected to be down about $746,000 (-.71%).
The report notes that expense of unfunded mandates, especially for pensions and charter school tuition, will soon be more than the entire state subsidy for many school districts.