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According to the article, "Center-Monaca Merger Timeline
Monday, July 06, 2009
By Brian David, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
October 2005: After talking about a merger study, superintendents Dan Matsook of Center Area and Mike
Thomas of Monaca raise the issue with their board presidents and vice presidents.
November 2005: Center Area and Monaca school boards authorize a merger study.
May 2006: Consulting firm Ingraham Dancu & Associates issues a report on five options, from making
no changes to a full merger.
September 2006-February 2007: Both districts create an educational plan.
February 2007: The boards hire Education Management
Group of Harrisburg to analyze the financial impact of a merger.
Monaca OK's preliminary budget, but that's the easy part
Posted: Thursday, May 21, 2009 12:00 am
Monaca OKs preliminary budget, but that’s the easy part By Michael Pound, Times Staff
At the urging of Superintendent Michael Thomas, members of Monaca’s board approved the $30.3 million spending plan,
despite a proposed 2.4 mill property tax increase for Monaca’s property owners; that plan also included a 2.8 mill property
tax decrease for Center Area property owners, so residents of the new district
would have a uniform 47.4 mill rate.
If the Monaca board holds to its promise, as well as to its reluctant backing of a new mercantile tax for the borough’s
businesses, that would mean Center Area’s property owners would get an even bigger cut, as Center Area’s rate
would have to be dropped to 45 mills, Monaca’s current rate. Thomas estimated the district would have to come up with
an extra $680,000 to make up for the loss.
The Central Valley budget already includes taking about $1 million from its fund balance to make the current plan work;
Monaca board President Michael Halama said the district should look there for additional money.
“We go back to the fund balance and we eliminate a few additional positions,” Halama said. “This is a
temporary problem. Once we finish the merge (in the 2010-11 school year) we
should be in good shape financially.”
Center Area Superintendent Daniel Matsook said his board approved the
budget in a separate meeting Thursday night. He also said he wasn’t surprised to hear of the Monaca resolution.
http://www.timesonline.com/news/monaca-oks-preliminary-budget-but-that-s-the-easy-part/article_b016c226-5b7a-55bf-8908-2a09cc2aef64.html
Not Enough Said:
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