This post comes with an explicit health warning – don’t read any further if you are prone to shortness of breath or you experience heart palpitations due to stress induced bureaucracy.

The legislative “savior” to property tax reform in Pennsylvania, aka Act 1, has done one major thing since being signed into law in 2006. It has assured an epic storm of financial discord for every school district and taxpayer by the year 2012. I realize this is a pretty bold statement to make – although sometimes it takes a good headline for people to finally take notice!

Fellow blogger, Jim Butt, outlines this concern in a recent posting too – albeit not in as dramatic fashion as my statement…LOL. Throw in some deepening concerns with a lagging recession, the ongoing pension crisis, and the largest “fixed” expense for any school district* and you have a forecast prediction for the Perfect Storm, Part II. And I doubt George Clooney or Mark Wahlberg will be returning to star in this sequel.

In my next series of posts, we will take in-depth look at each of these areas and how they directly relate to our local school budget. I will also highlight some bright spots (it’s not all gloom and doom) – and why every stakeholder should take an active role within their local community.

A commitment to education, innovation, and creativity will remain the critical keys that will help drive our economic turnaround and long-term sustainability.

* Special acknowledgment to Dr. Fred Baldwin, board member of Carlisle Area School District

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