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Abington board approves 2025–26 budget, tax relief and multiple contracts; roll-call votes unanimous
Summary
On June 24 the Abington Board of School Directors approved the 2025–26 general fund budget, homestead tax relief, senior rebate, multiple procurement awards, and professional contracts including the program-management agreement for the new middle school. Votes were unanimous where roll calls were recorded.
The Abington Board of School Directors took a slate of formal actions during its June 24, 2025 meeting, including adoption of the district’s final general fund budget for 2025–26, tax-relief measures, reappointments and contract awards. Board members recorded unanimous roll-call votes where shown.
Major outcomes - Budget adopted: The board approved the 2025–26 final general fund budget covering operating needs in the coming year. The administration presented the working figure of roughly $202.8 million in operating expenses and explained revenue, millage and fund-balance assumptions. The board set the millage rate at 38.55 mills. - Homestead exclusion and senior rebate: Under the Taxpayer Relief Act the board established a homestead/farmstead exclusion equal to $13,830 of assessed value, corresponding to a $533 reduction on eligible homesteads at the adopted millage, and approved a 40% senior-citizen real-estate tax rebate program consistent with Pennsylvania Department of Revenue procedures. - Fund balance and GASB classification: The board authorized estimated fund-balance classifications, committing general-fund reserves to specific purposes (capital projects, assessment appeal litigation, benefit stabilization, transportation contingencies and self-insurance). The administration said roughly $5.8 million of fund balance was allocated to support the 2025–26 budget; auditors will confirm final amounts in the year-end audit. - Construction and program contracts: The board approved (by roll call) awards and agreements needed to begin capital work and summer projects, including a professional program-management, architectural/engineering and construction-management agreement for the new Abington Middle School with ICS Consulting LLC. - Personnel and legal appointments: The board approved the employment contract for incoming Chief Financial Officer Patricia Denicola, rehired several long-term substitutes as temporary professional employees, and reappointed the solicitor firm (Whistler Pearlstein) for a two-year term.
Vote details and motions (summary) - Adopt 2025–26 final general fund budget (motion, second recorded) — outcome: approved; millage 38.55 mills; allocated fund balance reported ~$5.8M to support the budget. - Approve financial report for period ending 05/31/2025 (addendum 7.1) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Approve payment of bills for period ending 05/31/2025 (addendum 8.1) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Awards of contracts and joint-purchasing agreements (addendum 10.1) covering supplies, food-service equipment, software, custodial supplies — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Authorization for superintendent to enter into construction contracts (values per contract up to $80,000) and change directives up to $20,000 during the summer — outcome: approved (routine authorization to keep projects moving during summer). - Adopt GASB-54 fund-balance classifications (addendum 13.1) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Establish homestead/farmstead exclusion and required bill language under the Taxpayer Relief Act — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Approve senior-citizen real-estate tax rebate program (40% rebate in district program) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Appoint/provide charge to tax collectors and record real-estate transfer tax resolution per statute — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Appoint Patricia Denicola as chief financial officer (employment contract in addendum 6.1) — outcome: approved by roll call. - Appoint solicitor firm Whistler Pearlstein for 07/01/2025–06/30/2027 (base compensation disclosed) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Approve agreement with Cardinal Point Homeland Security Group LLC for school security services (renewal/annual terms) — outcome: approved (roll call recorded). - Authorize filing federal grant applications for Titles I, II, III and IV for 2025–26 — outcome: approved. - Approve Abington Cyber Education (ACE) contract for one year with Chester County Intermediate Unit / Brandywine Virtual Academy — outcome: approved. - Approve hiring or rehiring items listed in personnel addenda and the employee assignment book for 2025–26 — outcome: approved. - Approve professional program-management and construction-management agreement with ICS Consulting LLC for new middle school design and demolition (subject to solicitor review) — outcome: approved.
What board members said Board members thanked administrators and finance staff for multiple budget presentations this year and for “sharpening the pencil” to reduce planned fund-balance drawdown. At least one board member noted that borrowing for the middle-school referendum is restricted to capital uses and cannot be used for operating expenses.
Notes and next steps The administration said final fund-balance numbers will be confirmed once year-end receipts and invoices are reconciled; audits and budget transfers are expected into August. The board authorized the superintendent to execute summer construction contracts and change orders that will be brought back for confirmation at the next regular meeting.
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