Eastern York board weighs 1.06‑mill option, reassessment appeals and special‑education changes to narrow budget gap

Eastern York School District officials on Tuesday presented a proposed 2025–26 budget that remains in the red despite program reductions and steps to bring special‑education classrooms back into the district.

District business staff told the board the starting deficit was about $3.9 million and that the administration's proposed reductions have cut but not eliminated the shortfall; with the revisions the board was shown options that range from a 0.75‑mill increase to a maximum 1.4‑mill raise. Administration recommended the board adopt a proposed budget at its next meeting and offered a slate of fallback tax options to approve on Tuesday: 1.06 mills (about a 4% increase), 1.0 mill, or 0.75 mill. Board members signaled support for presenting two or three options to voters when the proposed budget is posted for public review.

Why it matters: the board's fund balance and its credit rating affect the district's future ability to borrow for building projects. Administration said the district's general fund balance stood near $8.3 million and that using too large a portion could lower Moody's‑type rating metrics and raise borrowing costs for any future capital plans.

Key budget details and staff changes District staff said special‑education changes are a major element of the savings package. Presentation slides and staff explanation described plans to take full administrative control of several special‑education classrooms now operated by the intermediate unit (IU) and hospitals, including a secondary life‑skills/high‑skills classroom, a middle‑school life‑skills classroom and related supports. Staff said the district would hire additional teachers, paraprofessionals and a full‑time speech therapist to replace higher outside provider costs; administration estimated this set of changes would generate roughly $210,000 in net annual savings once tuition payments to other districts and IU billing were reduced.

Board members asked for specifics about the projected outside tuition revenue used in the calculation. Staff said one revenue line—"new tuition billing from outside"—represented roughly $307,000 of anticipated income through contracts with other districts, and that number assumed roughly five to six tuition students (staff said it represented about five or six students, four of whom were already in process of visiting the district). Administration described a conservative planning approach and said hires were budgeted near market rates so the district could fill positions.

Revenue and contingency options Administration told the board the governor's proposed change to cap regular‑education cyber charter tuition at a lower statewide rate would reduce the district's cyber charter payments and is factored into the revenue assumptions, but staff warned the proposal remained politically uncertain and the district could not count on the funding being finalized. Board members also raised an outstanding equity settlement payment that the district received $147,000 of in a multiyear settlement; staff said the state has not committed to continuing that payment.

To raise the remaining revenue, staff presented three tax scenarios and the board asked that the proposed budget for adoption next Tuesday include either two or three voting options (members who spoke mentioned 1.06 mills, 1.0 mill and 0.75 mill as possible picks). Administration said the 1.06‑mill proposal corresponds roughly to a 4% revenue increase and would better track year‑over‑year cost pressures (union contracts and other recurring expenses).

Alternative revenue strategy: assessment appeals Board members asked about revenue beyond taxes and cuts. Administration described a proposal to file assessment appeals on properties that sell for materially more than their assessed value—a commonly used practice in some districts to accelerate reassessment revenue. Staff said a three‑month review of sales suggested a range of net new revenue roughly around $150,000 per year based on recent sale activity, but cautioned the monthly yield is volatile (estimates ranged from about $5,000 to $25,000 per month depending on market activity). The solicitor said the board must adopt a written policy setting clear criteria (for example, a threshold percentage difference between sale price and assessed value) before the district could begin filing appeals and recommended moving quickly because appraisal windows open in late summer.

Board direction and next steps By the end of the discussion the board agreed to have administration present a proposed budget for adoption at next Tuesday's meeting and to return with two or three tax options to put on the proposed budget. The solicitor and administration will bring policy options and legal advice on filing assessment appeals and the business office will refine revenue and hiring numbers related to the special‑education transfers.

Votes at a glance - Board direction: refer proposed 2025–26 budget to next Tuesday's meeting with multiple tax options (options discussed: 1.06 mills, 1.0 mill, 0.75 mill). Action: board consensus to present options and adopt a proposed budget at the next meeting. (No recorded roll‑call vote in the transcript.)

Ending Administration will return next week with a published proposed budget reflecting the board's requested tax options, refined personnel salary estimates for new special‑education hires and more detail on anticipated outside tuition contracts; the solicitor will draft an assessment‑appeal policy for board review if the board wishes to pursue that revenue path.