Finance committee hears Act 1 index briefing; administration recommends staying below 5.3% and advancing library HVAC repair

The Whitehall-Coplay School District finance committee reviewed the 2025–26 budget timeline and Act 1 calculations on Jan. 13 and heard administration recommendations on several finance items, including an administration recommendation to adopt a resolution to remain at or below the district's adjusted Act 1 index (5.3 percent).

Assistant administrators presented the revenue/expenditure history and explained how the Pennsylvania index is calculated (using average weekly wage and employment cost indices, modified by district characteristics). The administration recommended adopting the formal resolution at the Jan. 27 board meeting to declare the district's intent to stay within the 5.3 percent adjusted index; the committee did not record a formal vote at this meeting.

Committee members and members of the public debated tax policy and district spending. A member of the public urged no tax increase and criticized recent district sign expenditures; committee members responded that the district controls roughly 25 percent of its budget and that state-mandated costs and charter-school payments restrict local flexibility. The public commenter also raised concerns about volunteer rebates and parity with senior rebates; district members said legal and state constraints affect rebate design and implementation.

The committee reviewed other administrative items. Staff recommended holding tax-collector compensation at current levels ahead of an upcoming election for those offices. The committee also supported, in principle, using escrow funds to replace a failed HVAC unit at the Whitehall Township Public Library; staff said the replacement with Johnson Controls would cost $30,135 and noted $48,000 is available in the library escrow account. Because the library building is district-owned, staff said the district would present the contract through CoStar purchasing and bring the contract to the board for approval; no contract was executed at the committee meeting.

The committee closed with a reminder about the budget calendar and that the administration will present a proposed final budget at an April committee meeting and a final budget for adoption in June, if scheduled milestones are met.