EF school board may seek help with pension costs

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourrmvi.com

The Elizabeth Forward School Board will consider a resolution calling upon the state legislature for relief at Wednesday’s meeting.

The board will consider joining other school districts seeking critical support and relief for costs associated with the state teachers’ pension and for COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

According to EF Director of Finance Al Ragan, 30% of the district’s payroll expenses are for pension contributions to the Pennsylvania School Employees Retirement System. Ragan said the amount has gone up considerably since June 2011 when the district’s net cost after state reimbursement was $332,000. By 2018, that cost had risen to $2.1 million.

“We’ve seen a net $1.8 million increase in pension costs,” he said.

Ragan said it is a state pension and the district has no control over the amount of the payment. He added that the district is doing well when it comes to tax collection.

“We’re pretty much in line with where we were last year. I think we’re stable. I haven’t seen any type of decrease due to the pandemic yet,” Ragan said. “Our real estate taxes are pretty much where they were last year.”

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