The budget process has begun at Salisbury Township School District and the first projections were introduced at the Jan. 6 operations committee meeting.

Projected revenues are estimated to be $31,535,099 from local, state and federal monies. The projected revenues assume no revenue increase for Salisbury.

Governor Tom Corbett is expected to release his state budget Feb. 4.

Project expenses are estimated to be $33,082,553; a difference of $1,547,354.

Business Administrator Robert Bruchak and Superintendent Michael Roth said expenditures have not gone through administrative review for cost containment or saving measures.

The budget, at this point, assumes all staffing and programs stay in place.

Two large expenditures this year include a jump in health insurance costs to 15 percent and an increase in the Public School Employees' Retirement System contributions.

At the Jan. 15 school board meeting, the board will be asked to decide if will be asked to decide if they wish to remain within the Act 1 Index of 2.1 percent.

The Act 1 Index determines the maximum tax increase for residents. Bruchak noted a 2.1 percent increase would bring an additional $454,395 into the district to help with the deficit. Bruchak also believes Salisbury will qualify for two exceptions: a PSERS exception for $379,447 and a special education exception for $457,625.

The committee approved the following meeting dates to continue the budget process, all open to the public.

A special operations committee meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Jan. 20 where a detailed preliminary budget will be presented. On Feb. 3, the operations committee will discuss the budget with an update of revenue based upon Governor Tom Corbett's budget. On Feb. 12, a preliminary budget will be approved at the regular board meeting.