Exeter board adopts $89.3 million general fund budget and raises millage to 37.0024 (3.25% increase)

The Exeter Township School District board on June 17 adopted a final general fund budget for 2025–26 totaling $89,314,814 and approved a real‑estate millage resolution that raises the millage by 3.25% to 37.0024.

“I'd just like to remind the board that within this budget includes a 3.25% tax increase, which is equal to 37.0024 millage,” a board member stated during discussion before the roll call. Business administrator and board secretary Brian Fike conducted a roll call vote: six trustees voted yes and two voted no. The roll call in the record shows Deborah Bloom, Jason Mill, Timothy Morgan, Travis Odom, Julia Schaefer and Allison Wilson voting yes; John Fidler and Dr. Anne Herring voted no. The motion carried.

Separately, the board approved final budgets for the food service department for the 2025–26 school year. The board reported the food‑service budgeted revenue as $2,529,728 and stated budgeted expenditures in the meeting materials; trustees approved that item by motion and second.

Board members and administrators discussed budget timing and state funding uncertainty; administrators said Department of Education projections can be useful as a cross‑check but noted local enrollment and service counts vary. The board also approved a six‑item finance and audit consent agenda during the meeting.

The board scheduled additional budget work for upcoming meetings and reminded the public that state budget actions could affect district resources once the state budget is finalized.