The Cheltenham School District School Board voted to adopt the 2025-26 general fund budget and tax levy Tuesday, approving a roughly $140 million spending plan that includes a 3% tax increase.

Board member Daniel Schultz moved to adopt the budget; Robin Murphy seconded. The motion carried with all board members present voting in favor.

The increase, Schultz said during discussion, “represents a 3% tax increase” and funds a mix of negotiated contract increases and program needs. “A large portion of those expenditures are directly related to our negotiated contracts, which reflects cost of living increases,” he said. Schultz also noted the district’s approach in relation to the state valuation measure: “This increase is also 1 percent lower than the Act 1 index,” referring to the Pennsylvania Act 1 baseline for tax and budget planning.

Schultz told the board the budget includes resources for special education services and potential liabilities tied to assessments and planned construction projects. He added that the district’s fiscal management has limited tax pressure over time, noting that nearly 80% of the district’s revenue comes from local sources within the district’s roughly $140 million budget.

Other board members thanked the administration and finance committee for their work preparing the budget amid uncertainty over the state budget, and urged residents to contact state lawmakers about school funding and related items such as a cap on cyber charter costs.

The board will proceed under the adopted levy and budget while monitoring state-level funding developments that the administration said could affect future revenue projections.

Ending: The board’s adoption establishes spending authority for fiscal 2025-26; the district noted continuing uncertainty tied to the state budget and encouraged community advocacy on funding issues.