Oxford Area SD presents $91.6 million 2025-26 general fund proposal, finance committee recommends 4% millage increase

Mr. Cooney, the meeting presenter, told the Oxford Area School District board at its April 8 work session that the administration proposes a $91.6 million general fund budget for 2025-26 and that the finance committee is recommending a 4 percent millage increase to support it. "Tonight, we're gonna go over the 25-26 proposed budget for Oxford Area School District General Fund for next year," he said.

The presentation outlined why the district's costs are rising and what the proposed tax scenarios would mean for taxpayers. The district closed the 2023-24 fiscal year with a stronger-than-expected fund balance — about $9.7 million rather than an earlier estimate near $6.5 million — but staff said ongoing cost drivers make the 25-26 forecast higher than recent years. "We're in better financial position than we put up," Cooney said, while cautioning the forecast depends on revenues and expenses through mid-2026.

Key numbers and context: the administration showed a range of millage scenarios with the finance committee recommending a 4 percent increase; in that scenario the district still would budget to appropriate roughly $5.2 million of fund balance for 2025-26 under current assumptions. The proposed budget…