Administration presents preliminary 2025–26 budget showing $6.2 million projected revenue increase and $98M in salary/benefits

Dallastown Area School District administrators presented the preliminary 2025–26 budget to the board on March 20 and outlined timelines for board questions and final adoption.

Business office staff said the proposed budget is balanced and shows a projected increase of about $6.2 million from the current year to 2025–26. The presentation included detailed revenue and expense breakout tables and compared current-year budget, projected current-year actions, and proposed figures for 2025–26.

Administration highlighted that salary and benefits account for the largest portion of the district’s expenditures—just over $98 million—and represent roughly 70% of the budget’s human-cost line. The business office noted this preliminary budget does not meet the board’s stated goal of no tax increase and described the timing as part of a multi-step process: board members were asked to submit questions by April 4; staff will return with answers at the April 10 meeting. The final budget is scheduled for adoption in June (June 12 referenced in the timeline).

Administrators said the budget document is a collaborative effort across the district and urged board members to review pages showing revenue sources, category breakouts and comparisons to other districts. The presentation included informational appendices (pages 26–36) with comparative tax-rate and salary/benefit details.

No action was taken; the presentation was informational and staff requested written board questions by April 4 so that answers could be prepared for the April 10 meeting.