Sequester Could Cost Perk Valley Schools $100K

The Perkiomen Valley School District stands to lose over $100,000 if a deal is not reached in Congress by March 1, to prevent the sequester—an $85 billion spending cut that will go into effect throughout the country—which would cost the Pennsylvania education system over $26 million.

The White House released reports on affects that the sequester cuts will have on Americans as part of its strategy to pressure Republicans into accepting a deal that will create new revenues, according to the Huffington Post.

Based on a Feb. 11 presentation from Perkiomen Valley School District Business Administrator Jim Weaver, the school district stands to lose $102,439 in federal funds for the 2013-2014 school year if the sequester occurs.

Weaver presented possible sequestration losses based on 7.8, 8.2 and 9.1 percent cuts on federal education funds, which created a loss of $87,806, $92,308 and $102,439, respectively, out of the expected $500,000 contribution from the federal government for the 2013-2014 school year.

The anticipated federal government revenue makes up .55 percent of the total revenue of just over $91 million.  Local revenue makes up just under $72 million on the budget, and state contributions account for  $19.1 million.

If the 9.1 percent cut occurs, PVSD will lose almost $80,000 in special education funding,  $12,500 will be lost in Title I cuts, and over $9,300 in Title II cuts.

"This is worrisome given the fact that the district is already trying to close a $3.2 million deficit," said Perkiomen Valley School District spokesperson Jessica Lester.  "We certainly would urge our federal lawmakers to do what they can to preserve federal education funds in this challenging budgetary environment."

According to the document released by the White House, Pennsylvania also risks budget cuts for clean air and water protection, military readiness, law enforcement and public safety funds, job search assistance for Pennsylvanians who need work, child care, public health, violence against women and nutrition for seniors, among other programs.

While the White House is sharing the impact of these potential cuts, Republicans in Washington are criticizing the President Barack Obama’s use of the “bully pulpit.”

“Republicans in the House have voted—twice—to replace President Obama's sequester with smarter spending cuts,” Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said, according to the Huffington Post. “The White House needs to spend less time explaining to the press how bad the sequester will be and more time actually working to stop it."