Interborough school board adopts $88.8 million budget, approves 1.5% tax increase

The Interborough Board of School Directors adopted a $88,808,960 general fund budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year on Wednesday and approved a 1.5% tax increase, the board said in an 8–0 roll-call vote.

Board and finance leaders said the budget would keep the district’s fund balance near $20.5 million, pay for planned capital work and allow modest additions to athletic staffing and equipment.

During a presentation before the vote, Riley, a district finance staff member, said the administration and board “really worked very hard to bring this budget down to something that we believe is fiscally responsible to this community while always providing quality education for our kids.” Marty, a finance staff member who presented revenue and tax-impact details, said the proposed millage change would amount to about $59 in additional annual tax for an average residential property valued at $152,000.

The budget sets proposed expenditures of $88,808,960 and was described in board materials and the presentation as requiring a 0.3876-mill increase (shown to be a 1.5% tax increase in the presentation). The finance committee reported a projected surplus of about $109,000 at the 1.5% rate and a total fund balance projection of approximately $20.5 million.

Board members and staff walked through the budget sources and uses during the public meeting. Presentation slides and discussion said roughly 52% of revenue is expected from local real-estate taxes while about 38% of total revenue comes from state sources. The presenters noted that growth in state revenue has not kept pace with spending demands.

Planned uses highlighted in the presentation include roof replacements at Glenolden and Norwood, gym-floor refinishing districtwide, front‑office renovations and courtyard work at multiple schools, playground replacements, and continued phases of high‑school construction. The presentation noted that capital work is expected to continue over the summer to limit impacts to students in the school year and that the district intends to advertise a bond issuance soon for the Richmond renovation project.

On staffing, the presentation said the district will not add new teaching positions for 2025–26 but will add athletic coaching positions: a JV wrestling coach, JV assistant baseball coach, assistant football coach, a boys volleyball head coach and assistant, an assistant cheer coach, and an assistant softball coach. The budget also allocates funds for athletic equipment including a new volleyball net system, weight-room equipment at South Avenue and cheer mats.

Presenters flagged uncertainty in state-level policy changes that could affect district finances: the board’s legislative report referred to pending state bills and a proposed change to the cyber‑charter subsidy. The presentation said the cyber subsidy proposal has moved to the state senate and is not assumed in the district’s figures.

The board approved the budget by roll call, 8–0. The motion was listed on the agenda as Motion 9.01: “that the board of school directors adopt the final general fund budget for the fiscal year 07/01/2025 to 06/30/2026, with proposed expenditures of $88,808,960 requiring an increase of 0.3876 mills over the current rate, resulting in a tax increase of 1.5% for a total millage rate of $26.2302.”