Board adopts proposed 0.75-mill tax increase; schedules follow-up on budget

The Eastern York School District board voted to adopt a proposed 2025–26 budget that includes a 0.75-mill tax increase, initiating the 30-day period before the board must adopt a final budget.

Board members debated three tax options before the vote and then approved the 0.75-mill proposal after motions, roll-call votes and a motion for reconsideration. The board and staff discussed using fund balance and seeking additional budget reductions before the final adoption.

The move starts a statutory 30-day public period tied to the required timeline for adopting a final budget. Board members and staff said they will meet again in a special session this month and again in May so the final adoption can meet the 30-day requirement. Superintendent comments and staff presentations clarified that appeals to property assessments could add revenue, but any district-initiated tax assessment appeals would require a formal board policy and must follow state uniformity rules.

Board members pressed staff for alternatives to a tax increase. Several suggested additional administrative cuts or using more of the district’s fund balance. One board member asked staff to look for roughly $500,000 in further reductions while allowing another $2 million from fund balance as a stopgap; staff said such trade-offs are possible but cautioned it might affect programs.

Legal and operational staff explained timing for property assessment appeals and the practical effect on revenue timing: appeals or newly assessed properties affect the next tax year’s revenue, and appeals typically must be filed by August to affect the following year’s levy.

Votes at a glance - 9.7.03 — Proposed budget including a 0.75-mill tax increase: adopted (roll-call votes recorded during the meeting). The adoption was treated as the district’s proposed budget for public advertisement and review. The motion to reconsider and clarify the proposal was made and approved prior to the final roll call. - 9.8/9.9/9.1 — Motions to advertise the adopted proposed budget, set tax rates for advertisement and set tax-collection procedures: approved. - 9.11 — Real estate refund related to a tax appeal: approved.

What the board said Board members acknowledged the political sensitivity of a tax increase and emphasized they wanted staff to continue looking for expense reductions. One member requested that administration return with options that would not cut instruction or essential programs. Staff said they could research targeted expense reductions and property-assessment strategies, but implementing a district-initiated assessment policy would require formal board adoption and consistent procedures.

Next steps By adopting the proposed budget tonight, the board opened the 30-day period required before final adoption; the board scheduled follow-up meetings to try to find additional reductions and to finalize the levy in May. Staff also committed to researching the feasibility and legal steps for property-assessment appeals to capture potential missed revenue.

Details and context Board members repeatedly noted the need to balance program preservation and fiscal responsibility. Staff noted the district had identified roughly $330,000 in potential missed real-estate transfer revenue from the previous year, and mentioned the district’s options — including pursuing formal assessment appeals — but also cautioned that the appeals process must follow state constitution uniformity rules and would require a board policy to guide selection and procedure.

The board’s action tonight is for a proposed budget; members may change the tax levy when they adopt the final budget at the later meeting. The preliminary adoption was framed as a necessary administrative step to meet statutory timelines, not a final commitment to the exact levy without further board review.