Hanover Public School District - Budget

Budget

In 2009, the district reported employing over 280 teachers with a starting salary of $38,000 to $113,000 for 190 day work year. The average teacher salary is $59,044. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, vision insurance, dental insurance, college course reimbursement, personal days 3, seeking public office leave, sick days - 10, $40 a day for unused sick days, and other benefits. Teachers are paid for extra instructional services at an hourly rate. In 2011, the average teacher salary in Hanover Public School District was $62,322.88 a year, while the cost of the benefits teachers receive was $17,338.36 per employee, for a total annual average teacher compensation of $79,661.24. According to a study conducted at the American Enterprise Institute, in 2011, public school teachers’ total compensation is roughly 50 percent higher than they would likely receive in the private sector. The study found that the most generous benefits that teachers receive are not accounted for in many studies of compensation including: pension, retiree health benefits and job security.

In 2007, the average teacher salary in the district was $53,388 for 180 days worked.

The district administrative costs per pupil in 2008 were $1,105 per pupil. The district has the highest administrative spending in York County. Hanover Public School District is ranked 40th among Pennsylvania's 500 districts for per pupil administrative spending. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2010, the per pupil spending at Hanover Public School District was $14,492.79 The district reported that per pupil spending was $14,238 in 2008. This ranked 95th among Pennsylvania's 500 school districts. In 2007, the state conducted a costing out study which estimated the amount of per pupil spending which, when achieved, would support each child being on grade level in all subjects. According to the study, Hanover Public School District should spend $12,553 per pupil to achieved student academic success.

According to an extensive study of York County school districts conducted by APA Associates in 2008, Hanover Public County School District achieved a -9 rating based on Performance and Relative Efficiency. This was the lowest ranking achieved among the county's school districts. Central York School District and Northeastern York School District ranked +10. Eleven of 16 York County districts achieved a positive rating.

Reserves - In 2008, the district reported a $4.1 million in an undesignated fund balance. In 2010, Hanover Public School District Administration reported $4,000,639.00 in its unreserved-undesignated fund balance and $881,000 in its Unreserved - Designated Fund. 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.

In April 2009, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district. Findings were reported to the school board and administration.

The district is funded by a combination of: a local income tax 1%, a property tax, a real estate transfer tax 0.5%, coupled with substantial funding from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the federal government. Grants can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension income and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the individual's wealth.