Pennsbury’s Act 34 hearing draws strong reactions – Bucks Round-Up – September 5, 2025
Pennsbury’s Act 34 hearing draws strong reactions
The Pennsbury School District’s proposed $211 million plan to build a new high school drew a packed crowd and more than three hours of testimony Thursday night at an official Act 34 hearing. Superintendent Dr. Thomas Smith opened the session by laying out the administration’s case for replacing the current high school campus. He cited security concerns and outdated facilities, pointing to the three separate buildings that force students to walk outside between classes and undersized classrooms that he said no longer meet modern curriculum needs. But many taxpayers in attendance were unconvinced. Residents lined up to question both the timing and the price tag of the project. Lower Makefield Township resident Elen Barth called the district’s justifications “flawed” and suggested the plan is politically motivated, given its proximity to the November election. “We just can’t afford it right now,” Barth said. The $211 million proposal has become a flashpoint in Pennsbury, where rising school taxes are already a concern. Several residents pressed for a referendum to give voters the final say on whether construction should move forward. Under state law, if the project’s cost climbs above the current estimate, a referendum would be mandatory. For now, the district is accepting additional public comments in writing. Comments must be submitted to the chief financial officer by October 6 at 4 p.m. before the board takes its next steps. The outcome of the debate could shape not only the future of Pennsbury High School but also the tax bills of thousands of families in Lower Makefield, Falls, Tullytown, and Yardley. With one of the county’s largest student populations, Pennsbury’s decision carries weight well beyond the district, serving as a bellwether for how much local taxpayers are willing to shoulder in new school construction costs.
Judge orders SEPTA to resume bus and rail service
A Philadelphia judge has ordered SEPTA to immediately restore the services it cut last month and to halt any new reductions, ruling that SEPTA changes unfairly impacted low-income and minority riders. The ruling will also benefit Bucks County residents who used SEPTA to get to work and school. Two of the key bus routes in Bucks County are 127 and 128, which run through lower Bucks County. In addition, rail service on SEPTA’s Trenton line will resume that has schedules in Bristol Borough and Croydon. George Bochetto, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, argued the cuts harmed students, teachers, and community members who are disabled. The ruling mandates SEPTA to resume its schedule of suspended bus routes, Regional Rail lines, and special runs including express trains to the sports complex in south Philadelphia. Paratransit service that was halted and closures at stations must also be put back in place. SEPTA officials say putting schedules back to their previous positions will take some time. The Judge’s ruling comes as lawmakers in the State Legislature continue their discussions over how to mend SEPTA’s $213 million budget deficit.
Consumer advocate lauds guilty plea in grandparents’ scam case
Bucks County’s top consumer watchdog says a recent conviction in a so-called “grandparents’ scam” should serve as both a warning and a reminder for local seniors to stay vigilant. Mike Bannon, director of the Bucks County Department of Consumer Protection, has been sounding the alarm on these scams for years. On Thursday, during an appearance on WBCB’s Upwards with Chris Ermer, he praised the work of investigators that led to the guilty plea of 26-year-old Engherber Perez-Jimenez of Reading. The case dates back to 2022, when Warrington Township Police received a report from an elderly couple who said they had been tricked into handing over $12,000. Authorities say Perez-Jimenez was working as a courier in the scam, sent to collect money after callers pretended the couple’s grandchild was jailed and needed bail. Detectives recovered touch DNA evidence linking him to the cash pickup. Perez-Jimenez later turned himself in and pleaded guilty on May 21. In August, a Bucks County judge sentenced him to 23 months in prison followed by five years of probation. Bannon said the outcome shows law enforcement and prosecutors are taking these scams seriously but added that prevention remains critical. He encouraged families to establish a “safe word” known only to immediate relatives. That code can be used to quickly verify whether a phone call claiming to be from a loved one in distress is legitimate. “These scams play on fear and urgency, and the victims are often our most trusting residents,” Bannon said.
Joe LeCompte hosts LeCompte in the Morning on WBCB 1490.
