Armstrong School District (Pennsylvania) - Budget

Budget

In 2007, the Armstrong School District employed 440 teachers. The average teacher salary in the district was $57,646 for 180 days worked. The district's teachers were the highest paid in Armstrong County. The average teacher salary in Pennsylvania was $54,977. As of 2007, Pennsylvania ranked in the top 10 states in average teacher salaries. When adjusted for cost of living Pennsylvania ranked fourth in the nation for teacher compensation. Additionally, the teachers receive a defined benefit pension, health insurance, professional development reimbursement, paid personal days, 10 paid sick days, and many other benefits.

The district's administrative costs per pupil was $846.91 in 2008. The lowest administrative cost per pupil in Pennsylvania was $398 per pupil.

In 2008 the district administration reported that per pupil spending was $13,037 which ranked 174th among Pennsylvania's 501 school districts.

In 2011, the district reported having over $6.18 million in reserves. Some of that was used to balance the 2011–12 school year budget. The district business manager estimates having an $5.1 million fund balance in June 2012.

In January 2010, the Pennsylvania Auditor General conducted a performance audit of the district and school board. Multiple findings were reported to the school board.

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 can provide an opportunity to supplement school funding without raising local taxes. In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pension and Social Security income are exempted from state personal income tax and local earned income tax, regardless of the individual's level of wealth.