North Pocono School District adopts $70.77 million budget and new tax levy; 6-1 vote
June 12, 2025 | North Pocono SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The North Pocono School District Board of Education adopted its final 2025–26 budget of $70,774,938 at its June 11 meeting in the North Pocono High School Library, approving a $2,089,403 increase (3.04%) and passing the measure on a 6-1 roll call vote. The board also approved the district's tax levy and related tax actions and authorized a tax-and-revenue anticipation note.
The budget vote followed approval of the tax levy package. The board kept the earned income tax at one-half percent and the real estate transfer tax at one-half percent, both with no increase. Real estate tax rates were set at 178.4643 mills for properties in Lackawanna County (a 5.14% increase) and 13.7215 mills for properties in Wayne County (a 3.87% increase). The motion to adopt the budget passed 6-1; Mrs. Walsh cast the lone No vote.
The board passed Resolution 4 of 2025, authorizing homestead and farmstead exclusion real estate tax assessment reductions for the 2025–26 school year, by unanimous vote. The board also authorized issuance of a tax-and-revenue anticipation note maturing June 30, 2026, by unanimous vote.
On school meals, the board approved 2025–26 pricing with no increase to program prices; district leaders said breakfast is currently fully subsidized by the state and that, as proposed, subsidy continuation would keep free breakfast for students while school is in session.
Resident Andrea Henninger of Covington Township submitted four written questions to the board in advance. In her submission she asked how revenue increases from a recent county property reassessment were factored into the budget; asked about nearly $6,000,000 of district debt and its interest rate; and questioned a proposed five-year contract extension for the district's budget manager, writing that the "salary alone totaling over 3 quarter of a million dollars plus additional benefits" was concerning given the budget shortfall. The board president said the district would provide answers to Henninger's questions by the end of the week.
Roll-call on the budget adoption recorded these board positions: Ms. Foda — Yes; Mr. Jennings — Yes; Mrs. Maros — Yes; Mrs. McLean — Yes; Mr. Wolf — Yes; Mr. Bassi — Yes; Mrs. Walsh — No. The tax-levy motion passed by the same 6-1 margin with Walsh dissenting.
The budget takes effect for the 2025–26 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The board publicized upcoming meeting dates, including a work session Aug. 11 and a regular meeting Aug. 13, 2025.
The budget vote followed approval of the tax levy package. The board kept the earned income tax at one-half percent and the real estate transfer tax at one-half percent, both with no increase. Real estate tax rates were set at 178.4643 mills for properties in Lackawanna County (a 5.14% increase) and 13.7215 mills for properties in Wayne County (a 3.87% increase). The motion to adopt the budget passed 6-1; Mrs. Walsh cast the lone No vote.
The board passed Resolution 4 of 2025, authorizing homestead and farmstead exclusion real estate tax assessment reductions for the 2025–26 school year, by unanimous vote. The board also authorized issuance of a tax-and-revenue anticipation note maturing June 30, 2026, by unanimous vote.
On school meals, the board approved 2025–26 pricing with no increase to program prices; district leaders said breakfast is currently fully subsidized by the state and that, as proposed, subsidy continuation would keep free breakfast for students while school is in session.
Resident Andrea Henninger of Covington Township submitted four written questions to the board in advance. In her submission she asked how revenue increases from a recent county property reassessment were factored into the budget; asked about nearly $6,000,000 of district debt and its interest rate; and questioned a proposed five-year contract extension for the district's budget manager, writing that the "salary alone totaling over 3 quarter of a million dollars plus additional benefits" was concerning given the budget shortfall. The board president said the district would provide answers to Henninger's questions by the end of the week.
Roll-call on the budget adoption recorded these board positions: Ms. Foda — Yes; Mr. Jennings — Yes; Mrs. Maros — Yes; Mrs. McLean — Yes; Mr. Wolf — Yes; Mr. Bassi — Yes; Mrs. Walsh — No. The tax-levy motion passed by the same 6-1 margin with Walsh dissenting.
The budget takes effect for the 2025–26 fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The board publicized upcoming meeting dates, including a work session Aug. 11 and a regular meeting Aug. 13, 2025.
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