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Upper Bucks County Technical School presents budget; Quakertown board approves spending plan using prior‑year fund balance
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Summary
The Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) presented a proposed $12.8 million spending plan for 2025–26; the board voted to approve the JOC‑recommended budget, which uses prior‑year fund balance to cover an estimated $827,000 gap and includes planned program expansions and two replacement vans.
The Upper Bucks County Technical School (UBCTS) presented its proposed budget for the 2025–26 school year to the Quakertown Community School District board and secured board approval after a presentation by UBCTS leaders.
Michael Herrera, executive director of UBCTS, and staff described a proposed spending plan of roughly $12.8 million for 2025–26, with estimated revenues just under $12.0 million and a planned use of approximately $827,000 of prior‑year fund balance to balance the budget. Herrera and finance staff said the 2025–26 request reflects program growth and three primary cost drivers: a Fire/EMS pathway in partnership with the community college (estimated per‑student cost in the presentation), a proposed new instructor in the transportation cluster, and an additional instructor to support development of an industry‑aligned program expansion. UBCTS staff said those personnel additions account for a material portion of the year‑over‑year increase.
UBCTS officials told the board the JOC had unanimously endorsed the budget; the sending districts’ contributions are projected to total about $9.4 million under the plan presented. The presenters also said the district expects about $1.1 million in state subsidy (estimate) and roughly $146,000 in federal Perkins funds (estimate). UBCTS staff noted they planned to use a portion of the fund balance for a short‑term facility planning reserve while the site logic study is finalized.
Board discussion touched on whether program and instructor additions would reduce the student wait list and on ongoing work to attract business partnerships. “This will get students off the wait list,” said a UBCTS official and added that partnerships with local employers are expanding and support co‑op placements. Board members thanked UBCTS administrators for the level of detail and asked for continued outreach to local businesses and workforce partners.
Why it matters: UBCTS serves high school students from Quakertown and neighboring districts and acts as a key pipeline to local careers. The budget funds program expansions (including a Fire/EMS pathway and transportation programming) intended to increase capacity and career‑connected learning but uses prior‑year excess to balance year one of the plan.
Board action: The board voted to approve the UBCTS 2025–26 spending plan as presented. The presenters said the plan complies with the joint articles of agreement that permit the use of prior‑year surplus to balance the upcoming fiscal plan; UBCTS leaders said the audit will confirm final fund balances and provide additional JOC allocation guidance.
Ending: UBCTS officials said they will continue outreach to local employers and to the sending districts to reduce wait lists and to finalize details for the new program pathways. The board will publish the official budget documents after the UBCTS audit is complete.
