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Saucon Valley school board adopts proposed 2025-26 budget with 0% tax increase
Summary
The Saucon Valley School District board on May 13 approved a proposed 2025-26 budget of $59,213,008.84 and a 0% millage increase, drawing $4,175,007.59 from fund balance. The budget will be on public display ahead of a final vote next month.
The Saucon Valley School District Board of Education on May 13 adopted a proposed 2025-26 budget of $59,213,008.84 and kept the millage rate unchanged, approving a 0% tax increase and a planned draw of $4,175,007.59 from the district fund balance.
Board members said the vote sets the proposed final budget required by the Pennsylvania School Code and begins the 30-day public display period before the board’s final adoption next month.
Board finance staff announced new stop-loss insurance quotes that reduced the district’s projected health-benefit costs. “I’m happy to announce that we’ve got better numbers for stop loss,” Finance staff member Dave Bonnenberger said during the meeting, citing multiple vendor responses. Bonnenberger presented the dollar figures the board later used in the motion: a $59,213,008.84 budget total, $4,175,007.59 to come from fund balance, and a millage rate held at 55.2055.
Board members discussed options for covering a remaining shortfall. Some members said they prefer using one-time fund-balance dollars for one-off expenses and limiting recurring increases to staff wages and benefits. One board member said, “My feeling is to take it out of the general fund and not increase you guys,” describing a preference for using fund balance instead of a tax increase. Other members urged public input and cautioned about using savings that generate interest for the district.
Board member Jed Park moved the 0% tax motion, and it was seconded and placed for discussion before a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded unanimous approval: John Conte, Vivian Demko, Dr. Laurel Erickson Parsons, Tracy Magnotta, Jay Santos, William Brun, Donald Carpenter, Dr. Shamim Paaksat and Board President Cedric Detmar all voted yes. The board president declared the motion approved.
The board noted the adopted figures are the proposed final budget and must be posted for public inspection consistent with the school code. The administration said the budget document will be available electronically via the district website for the required display period, after which the board will take a final vote.
The board and administration emphasized that the vote does not remove any programs from the proposed budget; administration said curriculum and program items discussed at prior meetings remain included.
The budget action now begins the statutory public-inspection period and preserves the board’s option to adjust numbers before final adoption next month if conditions change.
