Finance update: district reports higher real-estate collections; contracts and field trips scheduled for October action

The Northwestern Lehigh School District finance presenter told the board that real-estate tax collections in August rose compared with the prior year, increasing the district's collections by about $2.5 million year over year for the period described.

The presenter said July collections were lower compared with 2024 (13.25% vs. 14.93%) while August collections were higher (69.39% vs. 62.98%), an overall increase of 4.73 percentage points from 2024. Additional receipts in the month included exception taxes ($6,200), real-estate transfer tax ($44,000), and delinquent real-estate taxes ($42,000). The presenter said the state property tax reduction payment received in August was $584,000 (one-half of the statutory annual amount), and PCCD funds received were reimbursement for funds already expended in the 2024–25 school year. No federal revenues were received that month. Earned-income-tax collections were up $18,000 from August 2024 but down less than 1% year to date.

On agenda items, staff said Northwestern Elementary will host a Rockin' Yoga assembly Oct. 15 to be paid from the student activity fund in the amount of $1,500, and that the band overnight trip to Orlando is fully funded by the band booster organization and participating families. Both items are scheduled for board action at the Oct. 15 meeting. Staff also noted two "agreement in lieu of FAPE" items (5.02 and 5.03) were drafted and will be brought to the Oct. 15 meeting for approval; a template for such agreements had previously been approved by the board.

Why it matters: improved tax collections affect district cash flow and budgeting; the Rockin' Yoga contract and overnight band trip will be considered at the next regular meeting for formal approval.

Next steps: the items were placed on the Oct. 15 agenda for board action; staff will present final contracts and agreements at that meeting.