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Oxford Area School District adopts $91.7 million budget and levies 4% tax increase
Summary
The Oxford Area Board of School Directors adopted a $91,664,342 general fund budget for 2025–26 and approved a 38.4391-mill tax levy, a roughly 4% increase, while also authorizing homestead and farmstead exclusions.
The Oxford Area Board of School Directors on May 20 adopted the district—s 2025—6 general fund budget of $91,664,342 and approved a real estate tax levy of 38.4391 mills for fiscal year 07/01/2025 through 06/30/2026.
The budget vote passed at the regular meeting; the board then read and approved the formal tax levy resolution that sets the millage and payment schedules and authorizes the homestead and farmstead exclusions required by state law. The levy carries a discount period, installment options, and a 10% penalty for late payment as spelled out in the resolution.
The levy resolution, read by board staff during the meeting, states the tax rate as 38.4391 mills (the equivalent of $38.4391 per $1,000 of assessed value) and specifies a 2% discount for payments made on or before Aug. 31, 2025. Installment deadlines are listed as Aug. 1, Sept. 15 and Oct. 31, 2025; taxes unpaid after Oct. 31 will incur a 10% penalty.
The board also authorized the homestead and farmstead assessed-value reductions authorized under the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion program (Act 1 of 2006 and related provisions). The district reported 5,584 approved homesteads and 93 approved farmsteads; based on the adopted millage the per-property tax reduction for an approved homestead or farmstead would be $476.68 as presented to the board.
Why it matters: the adopted budget and levy determine the district—s revenue for next school year and the tax bills that property owners will receive in July. Board members debated tax policy during the meeting; one member reiterated opposition to using annual tax increases as a budgeting strategy and another highlighted the state—s Property Tax/Rent Rebate program and local assistance resources for eligible residents.
What happens next: the district will issue tax notices on or before July 1, 2025, reflecting the adopted millage and homestead/farmstead reductions. The board also moved forward with other fiscal routine business at the meeting, including appointments of the district solicitor and auditor and approval of multiple maintenance contract renewals.
