East Stroudsburg district projects large 2025–26 shortfall, business manager presents conservative budget options

Peter Barth, the district business manager, presented the East Stroudsburg Area School District’s first formal 2025–26 budget draft on Feb. 24, telling the school board the district’s most conservative estimate shows a potential $24,459,677 shortfall for the coming fiscal year.

Barth said local tax revenues and state aid compose the district’s two largest revenue streams and that a recent state “tax equity” payment and other timing issues affect how revenue appears this year. “The most important thing to note here is the decline in the values for Monroe County. We’re seeing a decline of $12,000,000 or a little under $13,000,000 for Monroe County,” Barth said during the presentation.

The presentation outlined revenue of roughly $189 million against projected expenditures of about $213 million, yielding the conservative deficit figure. Barth said the estimate includes known changes such as the end of ESSER federal funds, a modest increase in state subsidy that is driven in part by one‑time items, and a projected 11% rise in health insurance costs. He told the board the district’s general fund balance is being…