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Hatboro‑Horsham board adopts 2025–26 budget with 3.46% real estate tax increase; approves tax‑relief rebates for seniors and volunteers
Summary
The board approved a balanced 2025–26 general fund budget that relies on a proposed 3.46% millage increase (to 34.97 mills) to eliminate a projected deficit, and adopted or proposed several tax‑relief programs including continuation of a senior rebate and a new active‑volunteer tax rebate that matches Montgomery County payments up to $1,500.
The Hatboro‑Horsham School District board on June 16 approved the district’s final 2025–26 general fund budget, which the administration said relies on a recommended 3.46% real estate tax increase to eliminate an estimated $2,970,000 shortfall and produce a balanced budget.
A district finance presenter identified projected revenues of approximately $132.9 million and projected expenditures just under $135.9 million before any tax change. The administration recommended a 3.46% increase in the real estate tax rate — raising the millage from 33.80 mills to 34.97 mills — which the presentation said would close the deficit. The board voted to approve the final budget as part of the finance agenda (items 8a–8n) at the June 16 meeting; the motion to approve the slate was moved by Board Director Susan Hunsinger Hoff and seconded by DJ Schultz.
The presenter said the majority of district spending (about 68%) is for salaries and benefits; services, supplies and equipment account for about 24%, and debt service for about 8%. The budget adds three support‑staff positions to support operations at the new Keith Valley facility and an additional security guard, and removes three professional positions that were not replaced due to enrollment and course‑requirement changes (a net headcount change described as neutral by the presenter).
Tax‑relief programs highlighted in the presentation include continuation of the district’s senior‑citizen tax rebate program (which supplements the state rebate) and a proposed active‑volunteer tax rebate. The active‑volunteer rebate would match Montgomery County’s new volunteer rebate program for emergency services volunteers who earn points based on responses and trainings; the district match would be dollar‑for‑dollar up to $1,500 per qualifying taxpayer, the presenter said. The presentation also noted the homestead/farmstead credit amount passed through to qualifying taxpayers and that the district will include informational inserts in upcoming tax bills to publicize these programs.
Board members asked for and were told that application information for the rebate programs will appear on the district website and will be available through state representative and senator offices after board approval. The presenter also compared the district’s recommended increase to the county peer group and noted that the district’s 3.46% recommendation is below the county average of 3.96% this year and remains at or below Pennsylvania’s Act 1 index; the district has not requested an Act 1 exception in prior years and the administration said it was not seeking one this year.
The board approved the budget and related motions by voice vote. The transcript records that an abstention was noted on item I during the vote sequence; the name of the abstaining board member is not specified in the meeting excerpt.
