The Boyertown Area School District Board of School Directors approved the final 2025-26 general fund budget Tuesday, adopting a 3% tax increase and authorizing a $1,800,000 draw from the district’s fund balance to balance the budget.

The vote followed public comment and discussion among board members about the district’s long-term fiscal strategy. Donnie Savage, a public commenter, urged the board to explain the long-term plan and to pursue other revenue options, saying, “Tonight, you'll be voting on the budget with a 3% tax increase and taking $1,800,000 from your fund balance to balance that.”

The budget matter drew questions from board members about costs that may be growing faster than the tax increase, including special education, and about capital projects beyond Boyertown air-conditioning, roofs and a possible turf field. Board members also discussed advocacy for state adequacy funding and limits on cyber charter costs. Board member Miss Nyman said she would vote against the budget because “the way it's presented with a lot of questions not answered.”

Administrators presented the budget as the final general fund budget for 2025-26 and asked the board to approve it as listed. When the roll call was taken, two members voted no and the motion carried. According to the roll call recorded at the meeting, Boyertown Area board members Miss Dieruff and Miss Nyman voted no; all other voting members present voted yes.

Board members and staff did not provide a detailed, line-by-line accounting of long-term projections at the meeting. Public comment and several board questions asked the district to produce more information about: the expected trajectory of special-education costs, the district’s long-term capital plan, and strategies to reduce expenditures or generate new revenue. The superintendent and finance staff said some information (for example, specific reimbursement rates for another agenda item) was not available at the meeting but could be provided afterward.

The board’s approval keeps the district’s spending plan in place for the coming school year and authorizes the identified revenue actions; no additional, new tax actions were taken beyond the adopted 3% increase. The administration and board indicated follow-up work is expected on strategic and fiscal planning and on providing the supplemental financial details requested by members and speakers.