Clearfield Area School District - Budget

Budget

In 2007, the district employed 175 teachers and the average teacher salary in the district was $51,422 for 180 days worked. The teachers were the highest paid in Clearfield County.

In 2008, per pupil spending at Clearfield Area School District was $11,801 for each child. This ranked 295th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. In 2010, the per pupil spending had increased to $12,589.23. Among the 50 states, Pennsylvania’s total per pupil revenue (including all sources) ranked 11th at $15,023 per student, in 2008-09. In 2007, the Pennsylvania per pupil total expenditures was $12,759.

Clearfield Area School District administrative costs was $660 per pupil in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil. On November 3, 2008, the Clearfield Board of Education named Dr. Richard C. Makin as the Superintendent of the Clearfield Area School District.

In June 2010, as a part of the budget process, the Board reduced staffing and abolished positions due to declining enrollment.

The bankruptcy of a Clearfield Bionol LLC meant a loss of $465,000 in tax revenues. The loss of tax revenue will be covered by $477,000 more from the state, in increases in the basic education subsidy, accountability block grant and state share social security.

Reserves - In 2008, the Clearfield Area School District reported an unreserved designated fund balance of zero and an unreserved-undesignated fund balance of $1,652,666.00. In 2010 the unreserved designated fund balance was $2,347,772. The unreserved-undesignated fund balance was $1,886,446. Pennsylvania school district reserve funds are divided into two categories – designated and undesignated. The undesignated funds are not committed to any planned project. Designated funds and any other funds, such as capital reserves, are allocated to specific projects. School districts are required by state law to keep 5 percent of their annual spending in the undesignated reserve funds to preserve bond ratings. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, from 2003 to 2010, as a whole, Pennsylvania school districts amassed nearly $3 billion in reserved funds.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local earned income tax, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. Both pension income and Social Security income are both exempted from state income tax and local income tax regardless of the level of income.