A proposal to establish a COVID-19 emergency fund by raising property taxes by 1 percent did not gain the support of the Northampton Area School District Board of Education at its May 18 meeting.

The proposal was made by school Director Chuck Longacre.

Three school directors said they continue to back a zero-percent tax hike budget.

A vote on the final budget is expected at the next school board meeting, scheduled for 6:30 p.m. June 8, again to be held as a teleconference because of the coronavirus pandemic guidelines.

“The proposed budget would remain unchanged, with the exception of a COVID contingency fund in view of exceptional or unknown expenses we may face,” said Longacre, adding, “It would be funded by a 1-percent tax increase.”

A tax increase of 1 percent would generate $630,000.

School Director Dr. Michael Baird asked NASD Superintendent of Schools Joseph S. Kovalchik if $300,000 hadn’t already been added to the contingency fund in the 2020-21 proposed school district budget. Kovalchik said $300,000 was added, bringing the contingency fund total to $600,000.

School board President David Gogel asked NASD Business Administrator Matthew Sawarynski what the amount of the surplus is from the 2019-20 budget. Sawarynski said the surplus of $1.7 million is being used to balance the 2020-21 budget.

“If there are extraordinary expenses, shouldn’t that be coming from the state?” Baird asked.

Kovalchik said all school districts are “in the same boat. We’re not sure that when we open our doors in the fall - will our students be attending a physical structure? Will we need staff members for the related arts? We may not have extracurricular activities. Transportation may cost you more if you have to run double runs. Do we need more thermometers? We might. Do we need more nurses? We might,” Kovalchik said.

“I think we should stay with what we have. We don’t know how many things will change. Let’s stay with our zero-percent increase,” Gogel said.

“I agree with you,” school board Vice President Chuck Frantz said.

“We voted for zero percent. Let’s just stay with zero percent,” school Director Roy Maranki said.

The NASD school board voted 7-2 at the May 4 meeting to approve the proposed 2020-21 general fund budget of $114,717,283 with a zero-percent tax increase.

In a phone interview after the May 18 meeting, Kovalchik said, “If the amount of money gets to a point where it’s not sustainable for a school district, the state or federal government is going to have to assist school districts to implement the criteria that would be in place to implement the COVID-19 requirements.”