The proposed 2015-2016 preliminary budget will be on the agenda for a vote at the Feb. 11 school board meeting. The meeting will be held 7 p.m. at the administration building.

The details of the proposed budget were presented at the Feb. 5 operations committee meeting.

Business Administrator Robert Bruchak said local revenues, other than proposed real estate taxes, are projected to remain level.

Governor Tom Wolf's budget is expected to be released at the beginning of March which is when the district will find out the state contribution. Until then, the preliminary budget will be level funded with the exception of the public school employees retirement system and FICA reimbursement.

Bruchak said the expenditure challenges include PSERS, charter and cyber charter costs, health care costs, transportation costs for non-public and charter school students, special education and capital improvement plan needs. Bruchak said the district provides transportation to 47 buildings due to the 10-mile mandate.

Bruchak has also reduced the federal revenue by five percent as the federal contribution continues to decrease in the support of public education students.

The preliminary 2015-2016 budget of $33,644,749 is expected to be placed on the Feb. 11 agenda.

As expenses exceed revenues at this point, if the budget remains as is, a tax increase could be required to balance the budget.

The budget is expected to be approved at the Feb. 11 meeting which will meet the Feb. 23 deadline to submit the preliminary budget with proposed tax rate increase to the Pennsylvania Department of Education.

Board members were quick to say this is just preliminary and much work will be put into creating the final budget.

Following these deadlines, the administration and board will continue to hold meetings with updates as to state revenues, expenditures and capital improvement needs.

The public presentation for the proposed final budget is planned for May 4. The public is invited to attend to learn about the challenges the district faces.

The proposed final budget is expected to be adopted May 13 with a final budget adoption planned for June 17.

Bruchak said the bond refinancing is moving forward with rates expected to be locked in by March.

Salisbury Township School District received a clean audit, according to Bruchak. He thanked the "great staff in the business office" for their efforts.

Superintendent Randy Ziegenfuss said the district has reached an agreement with Salisbury Township for the use of the tennis courts at Lindberg Park.

Ziegenfuss told the board members some of the fitness room equipment at Salisbury High School is no longer usable and/or rusted. Some of the equipment was purchased in 2002.

"We've relied on the athletic booster club for too long and they can't keep up," board member Frank Frankenfield said.

Frankenfield suggested an $18,000 to $20,000 allowance to see what the trainers need most. Frankenfield hoped to use capital money, possibly Plan-Con reimbursement from the state for the purchase of the equipment. He said the district will look for slightly used, commercial equipment and consult with OAA for the training and rehabilitation needs of Salisbury students.

The advertisement for bids for summer projects in all four buildings will begin Feb.13 with a tentative pre-bid meeting scheduled Feb. 25. Director of Building and Grounds William Brackett hopes to receive bids by March 11 with board approval by March 18.

Summer projects include bathrooms, doors and frames at Harry S Truman Elementary School, recommissioning of the HVAC system at SHS, quarry tile and door hardware at Western Salisbury Elementary School and door hardware and lockers at Salisbury Middle School.