Chester‑Upland School District budget presentation outlines $3 million shortfall; Act 1 cap limits tax increase

Miss Gathers, budget presenter for the Chester‑Upland School District, told community members the district is proposing the 2025–26 budget amid a roughly $3 million operating shortfall and a set of ongoing cost pressures.

The shortfall grows to about $3.5 million when the district applies its historical collection ratio — it collects approximately 86% of billed revenue, Miss Gathers said. “The question is really not if we’re gonna raise taxes. The question is how much,” she said.

The proposed budget presented by Miss Gathers shows revenue of about $170 million and expenses of about $173 million in the draft figures discussed at the meeting. Major expense categories highlighted included roughly $73 million for charter school payments, about $51 million for personnel, $11 million for debt obligations and $7.6 million for transportation. Charter school payments remain the largest single expense item and have increased year over year.

Miss Gathers listed several drivers behind the shortfall: the scheduled end of ESSER (federal COVID‑relief) funding that had supported facilities and programming; a reported 7% increase in health insurance premiums that she said equates to nearly $4 million; a reported 15% increase in liability insurance (property, casualty and workers’ compensation) that she said equates to about…