Wallingford‑Swarthmore board hears FY26 preliminary budget; administration proposes 2.79% tax increase

DeJuana Mulvey, the district business administrator, presented the Wallingford‑Swarthmore School District preliminary budget for fiscal year 2026 at the May 19 board meeting and said the administration is proposing a 2.79% property tax increase for the coming year.

"The proposed tax increase for next year's budget is 2.79%," Mulvey said while outlining revenue and expenditure projections and a multi‑year approach to budgeting.

Why it matters: The preliminary budget sets the district's spending plan and tax proposal for public review; it is a first reading and not the final adopted budget. Mulvey said the preliminary budget reflects negotiated compensation changes, benefit cost increases and several positions the administration described as "new money." Board approval tonight advances the plan to the next step in the process.

Key figures and changes Mulvey presented: total projected expenditures of $105,157,157.52; projected local revenues of $80,614,900; projected state revenues of $22,594,585.56; and projected federal revenues of $406,161. The…