North Penn board adopts $338.7 million budget, approves plans for long-term facilities work

The North Penn School District Board of Directors on June 18 approved a $338,735,000 final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and voted to set taxes up to the full Act 1 index to balance the budget and fund long‑term facilities needs.

The action, moved and seconded during the meeting and approved by voice vote, included the district’s PDE 2028 budget filing and related tax and homestead/farmstead resolutions. Board members said the tax action is intended to limit borrowing and protect the district’s Moody’s credit rating while building resources for a planned high‑school project.

Board President (Board President) said the board was “raising taxes to maximize, to the maximum allowed under the Act 1 index because it's critical to balance our budget responsibly, limit additional borrowing, and protect our Moody's credit rating.” Board members described the budget as part of a multi‑year effort tied to a 10‑year capital improvement plan and the high‑school project.

Treasurer Tara Hauser confirmed the board also approved the homestead and farmstead exclusion for 2025; when asked about the per‑household effect a board member said it equated to roughly another $100 per homestead compared with last year, and Hauser answered, “Yes, you are correct.”

Administrators said the budget continues to allocate money for capital planning and priority projects. The board discussed the need for environmental and construction steps tied to the high‑school work; the meeting separately approved an RFP for an independent environmental monitoring and testing consultant for phases 2 and 3 of the high‑school project to oversee hazardous‑material (asbestos) abatement and air monitoring.

Board members repeatedly framed the budget vote as an investment in student programs and facilities: “Budgets are passed each year, decisions about taxes are made each year, but our need to address the facilities is going to be a long‑term project,” a director said during debate.

What the board voted on - Final budget resolution (fiscal 2025–26): $338,735,000 — motion moved and seconded; passed by voice vote. - Homestead and farmstead exclusion resolution — approved by voice vote. - RFP to secure an environmental monitoring and testing consultant for high‑school project phases 2 and 3 — approved by voice vote.

Why it matters The budget and related facilities motions fund the district’s ongoing capital work, including a major high‑school project. Board members tied the tax decision to preserving the district’s credit rating and to ensuring that long‑term projects are funded without excessive borrowing.

What’s next District staff said they will continue planning work on the high‑school project, complete environmental testing and abatement under third‑party oversight, and return to the board with implementation details and bids as required.