On Oct. 13, the Salisbury Township School Board conducted its first finance committee meeting. Board members in attendance included Sam DeFrank, Joseph Gnall, Christopher Freas, Thomas Spinner and Laura McKelvey.

Freas, serving as the finance committee chair, began the meeting by outlining the primary goals of the committee.

The committee is focused on evaluating revenue sources for the district, monitoring an annual budget timeline, assessing the health of the district, reviewing the financial needs for necessary capital improvements and making recommendations in these areas.

First up on the agenda was a presentation by Zach Willard, managing director, PFM Financial Advisors, LCC. He presented a multistep financing plan laying out a tentative 20-year timeline to fund the Guaranteed Energy Saving Assessment. He also laid out what a debt schedule would look like using a wrap-around debt service structure incorporating other necessary capital improvements the district has previously discussed such as the new roof at the middle school.

DeFrank expressed concerns about the fluctuating nature of state funding and how it will affect the district’s ability to pay debts if funding was reduced by 10, 25 or even 50%. He recalled past instances when a downward economy caused the state to drastically reduce funding.

McKelvey suggested a personnel or operations audit might be prudent so the board has a Plan B if funding is cut. She said the board needs to know options and where cuts can be made if it becomes necessary to do so.

In response to the possibility of reduced state funding, school Superintendent Lynn Fuini-Hetten reported she and Chief Financial Officer Dawn Nickischer recently attended a financing workshop where state funding was discussed. She reports it was predicted Salisbury would likely get more money next year. She did caution it is nevertheless a prediction.

Gnall pointed out the district is at a point where something must be done at the middle school or the building will not be able to be used. DeFrank agreed, saying Bill Brackett, director of facilities, has kept the board informed about the HVAC system for the last seven years. “We can’t kick the can any longer,” DeFrank said.

Nickischer estimates the 4.1% tax increase will amount to an average $157 per household.

Nickischer also explained the details of the Guaranteed Energy Savings Agreement resolution where the district would pay $1.6 million to the McClure Company before securing funding so materials could be ordered to begin the project.

She also presented to the board a detailed timeline for developing the 2023-2024 budget. During this discussion Fuini-Hetten proposed the idea of restructuring meetings so the operations and finance committee meeting would be held together since these items are related. Curriculum committee meetings would then be held separately.

At the close of the meeting, Gnall raised the need for a comprehensive campaign to find new streams of revenue through means other than raising taxes and relying on what the state gives the district.

Gnall and fellow board members Sarah Nemitz and Rebecca Glenister, in conjunction with the Salisbury Education Foundation, are working cooperatively to find ways to partner with individuals and companies who want to make a difference and help Salisbury meet their goals.

Fuini-Hetten invited anyone interested in volunteering with the Salisbury Education Foundation to contact her or Glenister.

The next school board meeting will be held 7:30 p.m. Oct. 19. The next finance meeting committee meeting is scheduled to take place Nov. 11. Both meetings will be held at the administration building, 1140 Salisbury Road.