Christopher A. Lionetti, Abington School District’s chief financial officer, told the board on Aug. 12 that the federal programs grant process for 2025–26 has reopened and the district’s updated awards for Titles I, II, III and IV total $1,364,340 — about $33,165 less than the amount previously reflected in the district budget.
Lionetti said the teaching-and-learning department had conservatively budgeted $1,364,340 (noted in the meeting as $1,000,367,194 in a spoken figure that staff said was a transcription error) and that updated federal amounts are usually finalized by January, with only minor de minimis changes expected.
Lionetti also reported that the Commonwealth’s late state budget has delayed some subsidy payments. He said roughly $8 million of state funds — largely tied to basic education and special education subsidies, the first installment of transportation subsidy and a $401,000 accountability block grant — are “in question” for the August–September collection period, because September is a high real-estate revenue month for the district.
On the impact, Lionetti told the board, “We do not have a cash flow problem, and we'll be able to meet the obligations of the school district.” He said the district will continue to monitor the state budget situation and will report updates to the board.
Why it matters: State subsidy timing can affect district cash management during peak collection months. The board must track potential delays in state payments even when staff do not anticipate immediate liquidity issues.
Details and context
Lionetti described the composition of the delayed state funds: basic education and special education subsidies, a modest transportation subsidy installment, and the accountability block grant. He said the homestead/farmstead related state aid, which offsets a homestead reduction on tax invoices, is typically received in September and amounts to about $7.9 million annually; he estimated about $3.8 million of that would normally be expected in September.
Lionetti told board members he last checked the state budget status in the mid-afternoon and did not see any optimistic signs that the budget would be completed immediately.
Ending
District staff said they will continue to monitor federal award finalizations and state budget developments and update the board if the timing or amounts of state subsidy payments change.