Wyoming Area Board adopts $47.8 million final 2025-26 budget, sets tax rates after heated debate over cyber charter costs

The Wyoming Area School District Board of Education on June 24 adopted a $47,834,009 final general fund budget for the 2025-26 school year and approved the accompanying property tax levies and administrative tax resolutions after a lengthy presentation on district finances and public comment.

The budget vote followed a detailed presentation from the district finance presenter, identified in the meeting as Mr. Mullen, who laid out a range of tax-rate options and projected revenue shortfalls depending on whether the district levied up to the Act 1 index (5.5%) and whether the Commonwealth’s proposed state funding in the governor’s budget materializes. The board adopted the final budget and related tax resolutions as printed on the agenda.

The presentation said the adopted general fund spending plan totals $47,834,009. The board approved a tax rate of 21.789 mills for the Wyoming Area parcels located in Luzerne County municipalities listed in the agenda and 108.6909 mills for parcels in Exeter Township, Wyoming County, with other local tax authorities (per-capita, local services tax, real estate transfer and wage tax) included as specified in the motion. The adoption also authorized the secretary to advertise the budget notice as required by law.

Why it matters: The district’s finance presentation showed a structural challenge — state and federal…