Boyertown Area School District lays out $150.7 million 2025–26 budget proposal, seeks 3% tax increase

Boyertown Area School District leaders presented an informational workshop on the proposed 2025–26 general fund budget that would total $150,695,308 and include a 3% real-estate tax increase and a planned use of $4,080,874 in fund balance.

Dr. Scott Davidizer, superintendent, opened the special meeting focused on the budget and emphasized the session was intended as an information and question-and-answer opportunity rather than a decision meeting. "For this evening, this is a special meeting... it's focused on one topic area and that's the budget 2025–26," he said.

The administration's proposal assumes $146,614,434 in budgeted revenue, of which roughly 71% is local revenue, and would increase the millage to an estimated 32.69 mills if the board approves a 3% real-estate tax increase (a 0.952-mill change). To cover the gap between revenue and expenditures the plan would draw $4,080,874 from the district's fund balance; the district reported an unassigned fund balance of $11,050,601, an assigned fund balance of $14,000,000 and a committed PSERS reserve of $4,100,000.

The proposed budget keeps all current positions and programs and adds targeted personnel aimed at student supports and state mandates: 8 special education FTEs, 2 full-time-equivalent positions toward full-day kindergarten planning, one FTE to begin preparation for the state-mandated financial literacy course, and 2.5 additional school counselors to advance a multi-tiered system of supports (MTSS). The administration also proposes a $1-per-hour increase for support staff and continued funding for the district's virtual academy.

CFO Miss Denicola said salaries and benefits account for the largest portion of the budget — $59,261,827 in salaries and $41,650,862 in benefits (about 67% of the total proposed budget). Other notable…