EE —-_._, »¢,osre Retirees | The Post NEWS Sunday, May 30, 2004 3 udget tinued from page 1) % less than $1.8 million. That Ms not a problem, since a new UBtate mandate against exces- ely large savings accounts fakes effect July 1, 2005. That i¥e culation limits the reserve to {8 percent of the total budget. i Property taxes will increase THlext year by about $85 for the ‘average homeowner in the dis- : bill is now $1,119, well be- dow the average in Luzerne County, but the return is high- er. 0 3 “Man, look what you re get- ‘fling for less money,” he said, “remarking that he moved to “Dallas in large part because of e quality school system. ~ While revenues are projected he rise by more than $1.1 mil- lion next year, to $23.2 million, d enditures are nearly flat. e largest increases, in jalaries and benefits, are offset y by' declines in purchased serv- “ices. Some of them are: e A nearly $100,000 reduc- tion in building improvement services. Palfey said that item was in prior budgets to cover unanticipated, one-time dam- age or repairs. “There doesn’t appear to be any need to have that,” because the budget has a $500,000 reserve anyway, and it is seldom fully used. e Tuition paid to West Side ~ Tech will fall by nearly 15 per- cent because 46 Dallas stu- dents will be attending versus this year’s 59. e Professional services are expected to be lower. Palfey said the budgeted amounts were not spent in prior years, and the yearlong leave of ab- sence taken by Assistant Super- intendent Michael Speziale, who supervises curriculum matters, would reduce the number of offerings. ® Significant savings have ‘been found in the cost of build- ing services and supplies. Palfey said fuel for the senior high school had been overbud- geted by $50,000 and a new contract for copier service would save $37,000. Other services will be “shopped around” for the best price. The teachers’ contract calls for a salary increase of 2.5 per- cent next year, but the project- ed expenditure is up only 1.6 percent, since new teachers will come in at lower pay rates than the experienced teachers they replace. While he is pleased with the new budget, Palfey is con- cerned about the future cost of all-day kindergarten and pro- posed renovations to the senior high school, particularly with the district carrying a smaller reserve. That situation, he says, will require an increasing- ly businesslike approach. A final budget must be adopted by June 30. Copies are available for review at the dis- trict administrative offices, in the Wycallis Elementary build- ing. (continued from page 1) 1 fund to which teachers have contributed, so there will be no additional cost to the district. 5: In estimating the effect on the district’s finances, Palfey projected that nine replace- ment teachers would be hired at or near entry-level, with an “average salary of $30,678; two would be more experienced, with salaries of $35,199; and a " director of technology would “be paid $47,000, the current salary for the position. + With between 33 and 36 «years of service, all of the retir- ing teachers earn the maxi- um annual salary of $66,937. The net effect will be an ad- ditional expense of $359,000 next year, as the payout is par- tially offset by salary savings. [Each year thereafter, the dis- | trict will save money. Palfey | projects savings of $256,000 | the second year, $237,000 the | third, $216,000 the fourth, | $173,000 the fifth, and so on. + “At year 10 it turns around,” he said, assuming the teachers progress up the salary scale. There could be some added ex- Early retirement at Dallas Teachers and administrators who retire before age 65 and who have 25 or more years of service are entitled to a one-time payment. Teachers with 25-28 years of service receive 75 per- cent of the last full-year salary. For each year of service beyond 28, the payout drops by 1 percent. At least 10 years must have been full-time at Dallas. Also, the district will pay for the retirees health insurance un- til age 65. Retirees can purchase coverage for a spouse by pay- ing the full cost of the additional premium. pense as new teachers are reim- bursed for advanced courses, and if they take family health insurance coverage. The retirees will all have sin- gle health insurance coverage, and will be able to add on a spouse of other family member by paying the full cost. The dis- trict pays for coverage of spous- es and families of employees. Sam Barbose, principal at Dallas Elementary School, also announced his retirement at the May 10 school board meet- ing. Paul Reinert, presently as- sistant principal at the middle school, was appointed .to re- place Barbose, who is paid $74,970. Reinert’s new salary was not discussed at the meeting. “I couldn’t tell you for sure where it would fall,” Palfey said, al- though he guessed it would be somewhat lower. This year’s retirees represent about 8 percent of the entire Dallas teaching staff. Palfey an- ticipates 15 early retirements each of the next two years, with payouts each year of about $675,000. “It’s really. a. shame to think of the talent and ‘experience you're going to lose,” he said. But that-is-effset by the infu- sion of new energy and ideas. munity event for you: 1. What day of the week would you prefer for a farmers market? QU Thursday Q Friday Q Saturday Q Sunday None : i I (Check one response): I I I 2. What time of day would you like to see the market in operation? I (Check one response): jHli1lam~-3pm. 012 3. What kinds of growers, produce, or types of venders or crafts would j you like to have at the market? Dallas Borough Farmers Market Survey The Borough of Dallas, in cooperation with the Back Mountain Memorial Library and the Penn State Cooperative Extension Program, is working to establish a Farmers Mar- | ket this summer on the Back Mountain Memorial Library grounds. Please complete the j following survey to help us determine how best to provide this Back Mountain Area com- 6pm d4-8p.m. 1A6-8p.m. 1 4. How many times during a month would you be willing to visit a local I farmers market? (Check one response): I OQ Once per week 0 Twice per month 1 Once per month 0 None I Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions and providing in- | formation for this important community service and event. i j Please return this survey by mail to: Or, by placing in a drop box located at one of the following locations: I Sheetz, Rt. 309, Trucksville I Back Mountain Memorial Library, Huntsville Road, Dallas I Turkey Hill Dairy Store, Rts. 415/118, Dallas I Lehman Country Deli, Rt. 118, Lehman Center Dallas Borough 25 Main Street Dallas, PA 18612 Bh ow on oe sos ee ow Gn mn en maw Me BEN GEN BON NEN MMH SGN GM GN BEN BEN MEN en wen sew mem ol Bicycle ride from Frances Slocum to Riverfest The Anthracite Scenic Trails Association, along with the Wyoming Valley Riverfest and Wellness Trails Partnership, will hold a bike ride on June 5 to celebrate National Trails Day. The ride will begin at Frances Slocum State Park and will end at Kirby Park in Kingston. There is no charge for the ride and those interested may ei- ther bike or canoe it. Those interested are asked to be at the park at 8:30 a.m. at the boat access on Carverton Road, or if that's too early, they can take a separate bp at 1 p.m. into West Nanticoke. Iq e . Business Owners throughout | Lions seek members Send your news to The Post by e-mail. Northeast PA appreciate tie | The Dallas Lions are looking thepost@ leader. nes fact that we offer many types | Digital photos welcome, too! wor new members. Anyone in- ‘terested in joining the club i should contact any club mem- iber or they can contact Frank | Rollman at 675-4485. 2503 (TIS TEI TH CIES |.570-779-3079 of commercial loan products, { ll numerous commercial deposit | | and support services as well as a vibrant cash management program. Others just appreciate the fact that we have Maureen. - » First Federal. oh a great bank behind you. [ Sidewalks * Floors * Patios * Driveways ° Etc. ? Open Daily Including Weekends Sue C3 hi Holidays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. S§ www.gibbsperennialgardens.com Shavertown Office | 196 N. Main St. | (570) 674-6084 1stfederalbank.com Maureen Straub (=) Equal Housing Lender Member FDIC Senior Vice President Commercial Relationship Manager J |] | See Burning * Fireplaces: e Stoves Milky Spore 20 #10202105 $3295 6 Piece Li Patio Set i] \199% | | 20' Flag Pole w/American Flag $299 Hummingbird _ feeders & food e Inserts Schedule Chimney Cleanings Litetime Warranty Fireplaces By Regency ¥ Imperial White Tail 30-06 mineral/vitamin 204 $19.99 (while supplies last) | 3% 1.33 gal Propane tank purchase of your fireplace We Do-It-All 28h ales - Service - Installation Saturday & Sunday June 5th - 6th Hrs: Sat. 10-6: Sun. 12-3L 8an (570) 298-2150 10 Miles From Dallas or Tunkhannock 2m SALE Round Up 7 BE Pull n’ Spray i Tail iV [o [Tot do]! Ready to use liquid 1 gallon >" Cemetery planter logs Boots tarting At $34 | iH I Fwy Dallas, PA -8: Sat. 8-6, Sun 9-5 £i & 4 3 WV « +. ei——————— As nl
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers