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Exeter Township SD previews $89.3 million budget; board conducts straw poll on millage
Summary
The Exeter Township School Board reviewed a proposed $89,314,814 general fund budget that the administration said would require a millage of 37.0024 mills and a tax increase in the low single digits; the board conducted a straw poll largely in favor of the proposal ahead of a June vote.
The Exeter Township School Board on June 3 reviewed a proposed $89,314,814 general fund budget for 2025–26 and conducted a straw poll on the accompanying millage and tax increase.
The administration presented the budget as supporting the district’s operations while funding special programs; the presentation included a millage figure of 37.0024 mills and a stated tax increase described in the meeting as roughly 3–3.5 percent. Board members said a final vote on the budget and millage must be completed no later than June 30.
Why it matters: the budget sets local property tax rates, funds special education and cafeteria programs and affects taxpayers across Exeter Township.
Most important facts: Business administrator and board secretary Brian Fike and Finance Committee chair Timothy Morgan outlined program-level detail during the committee discussion. Morgan noted that “special programs … [in the general fund] total $15,785,562,” identifying that as the budget area that contains many special-education and purchased-services costs. Fike further described that the subsection for purchased professional services — the line that covers contracted psychologists, social workers and prepaid out-of-district slots — is roughly $1.7 million, and that “other purchased services,” which includes private school tuition and charter school payments, is about $2.8 million.
Board members asked about state revenue and potential changes to federal and state programs that could affect future years; administrators told members allocations for Title II–IV were not expected to change for the coming year because allocations already had been made. The board also discussed pending state legislation on cyber charter funding and whether that might affect future budgets.
The board took a nonbinding straw poll on the package prior to the formal June vote. The roll-call straw poll recorded a majority favoring the budget as presented, with the board chair and multiple members answering in the affirmative; the straw poll does not constitute final approval.
Less critical details: The administration recommended taking two motions to the voting meeting: approval of the final budget document and a separate motion to set the millage rate. The board’s finance committee will present those items for formal votes at the June 17 voting meeting.
The board scheduled a formal vote at the statutory deadline; final adoption will be recorded in the minutes of the voting meeting.
