Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Babbitt vocational school projects 3.9% district impact in 2025-26 budget presentation
Summary
Representatives from Babbitt (Bethlehem Area vocational-technical program) presented a $15.6 million 2025-26 budget to the Saucon Valley School District board, outlining a $957,139 (6.56%) increase in expenditures driven by salary and benefits, enrollment changes and a $250,000 projected expansion expense.
Babbitt vocational program presenter Mr. Lasarcek told the Saucon Valley School District Board of Education on April 8 that the 2025-26 budget totals $15,555,038 and reflects an overall expenditure increase of $957,139, or 6.56 percent, compared with the prior year.
The nut of the presentation was that salary and benefits account for the largest share of the increase. Lasarcek reported a $685,940 rise in salary and benefits to support two new positions tied to an expansion and cited a $250,000 expenditure for taking over a factory facility on Bethlehem’s south side. Supplies and miscellaneous items were listed as smaller increases ($12,000 and $9,100, respectively).
Lasarcek said projected revenue changes include a $10,000 rise in local revenue, a $467,600 increase in state subsidies for current technical education and a small federal increase, producing a net revenue change of about $511,000. He said that after accounting for revenue, the districts’ combined share rises by about $446,001.33, which he described as a 3.96 percent increase to participating districts for the year.
Lasarcek summarized how costs are shared among participating districts: Bethlehem contributes roughly 61.7 percent of the program’s budget, Northampton 28.5 percent and Saucon Valley about 9.8 percent. He also showed three‑year rolling market‑value shares and six‑year enrollment trends, saying enrollment and the three‑year rolling average are the largest drivers of the budget formula. Lasarcek noted Saucon Valley’s three‑year rolling average market‑value share fell slightly to 11.16 from 11.62 and that Saucon Valley’s student enrollment has risen over the last six years.
Board members asked whether the state funding increase is recurring; Lasarcek said state subsidy increases for current technical education are recurring and that federal funds are typically recurring but represent a smaller portion of revenue. A board member asked whether a diesel program had been considered; Lasarcek said diesel is costly to launch (truck purchase and facility needs) and that the local advisory committee previously discussed prioritizing electric or emerging technologies over a full diesel program.
The presentation was informational; no formal board action was taken that evening.
