Planning committee notes Act 1 index set at 3.5%; local officials urge state budget resolution

Members of Colonial SD's planning committee told the board on Sept. 18 that the Pennsylvania Act 1 index has been set at 3.5 percent, a factor that affects property tax and budget calculations for school districts.

Board members and guests noted the ongoing state budget impasse and the potential downstream effects on school funding. The meeting included mention of a letter from the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit (MCI) executive director, Brigitte Speaker, urging Governor Tom Wolf (the transcript referenced "Governor Shapiro" which the MCI letter addressed) and members of the county legislative delegation to seek a quicker solution to the budget impasse because of its impact on districts.

Planning committee remarks indicated the index setting and uncertainty at the state level informed local budget planning; committee members said additional committee work and communications are planned. The committee report also noted the district continues to monitor state revenue actions that could affect the local budget.

Provenance: The planning committee report appears in the meeting transcript at 00:16:44–00:17:11, and the MCI letter and related comments appear later in the meeting (around 00:24:24–00:24:57).