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Connellsville Area School District board approves proposed 2025–26 budget, schedules June 26 adoption vote
Summary
The Connellsville Area School District board approved a proposed final budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year that reduces a multi‑million dollar deficit and sets a special meeting June 26 to adopt the final budget; the district kept an $833,000 contingency for cyber tuition amid state funding uncertainty.
The Connellsville Area School District Board of School Directors approved a proposed final budget for the 2025–26 fiscal year and authorized a special voting meeting June 26 to adopt the final budget and handle any other business that may come before the board.
Board action came after the district’s finance committee and administration reviewed line‑by‑line adjustments that reduced a projected deficit from just over $2,100,000 to $860,994 by increasing estimated revenues by roughly $360,000 and trimming expenditures by about $900,000. The proposed final budget totals $88,235,036 for the school district and $4,592,114 for the Connellsville Area Career and Technical Center, filed on PDE Form 2028 for public inspection as required by state procedure.
Why it matters: the revisions cut projected shortfalls while preserving an $833,000 contingency earmarked for cyber tuition in case the state does not enact a proposed change to the 8% cap on cyber tuition funding. District staff also said there is potential for additional adequacy funding from the state but did not include any assumed increase in the budget because that support was not yet certain.
During discussion, staff reported reductions across contingency, contracted counseling services, some salary and benefits lines, supplies and equipment. Board members and finance committee participants described intensive work in recent days to produce the revised figures and said the district’s position is improved relative to neighboring districts; the board emphasized that the numbers remain subject to state actions and further review.
The resolution approved by the board directs the district to make the proposed final budget available for public inspection and to advertise the notice at least once in a newspaper of general circulation and conspicuously at the school district offices, consistent with the publicity steps attached to PDE Form 2028. The board approved holding a special voting meeting on Thursday, June 26, 2025, to adopt the final budget.
Roll call during the vote recorded at least two dissenting votes (Mister Martray and Missus Sangston registered “no” in the roll call sequence), though the motion carried and the board authorized the advertising and special meeting. The board noted that, based on the revised figures and contingent assumptions, staff do not expect a tax increase for the coming year; however, members said they will continue reviewing numbers as state funding details are finalized.
Board members also discussed a potential construction project in Dunbar Township and were told by staff that, if the district moves forward with a bond for that construction, bond payments can be structured so they do not affect the 2025–26 school year budget, per a staff conversation with Bob McShane.
The proposed final budget must remain available for public inspection at least 10 days before the scheduled final adoption; the board’s next step is the June 26 special meeting to consider adopting the final budget.
