Easton finance team presents preliminary budget framework; board tables adoption and hears public comment on $7 million TIF revenue

The Easton Area School District finance team presented a preliminary general fund budget and timeline for adoption Tuesday, telling the board the proposal would require a millage increase and rely on several revenue assumptions, including a one-time $7 million payment from a local tax increment financing (TIF) arrangement.

The finance presenter (Mr. Trent) said the draft budget being worked toward would result in a 72.17 mill rate for 2025–26, a 3.5 percent increase over the prior year, and that the plan in its present form does not rely on drawing down the districtfund balance. "This has no fund balance," the presenter said while describing the proposal, and he explained the proposed increase was intended to produce available capacity to begin a multi-year capital program while preserving operating reserves.

Board action and schedule At the start of the special meeting the board voted to table formal adoption of the district's proposed 2025–26 preliminary budget until the regular board meeting the following week. The motion to table was made, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: the proposed budget frames the district's ability to support large capital needs discussed in the same meeting and sets a preliminary tax-rate impact for homeowners. The finance team said the current proposal assumes a 94 percent collection rate for taxes in projecting revenue and that there will be a multi‑year budget plan presented going forward.

Key fiscal points presented - Millage and levy: the draft being discussed yields a 72.17 mills rate (presented as a 3.5% increase). The presenter displayed a per‑municipality estimate of annual and monthly impacts for Easton, Forks, Lower Mount Bethel and Palmer based on that millage. - Fund balance: the presenter said the proposed budget uses no fund balance to close the operating budget. -TIF and capital funding: the finance discussion noted an expected $7 million TIF payment; a public speaker (Bud Hackett) described the TIF's origin and said funds were the result of an Industrial Development Authority bond arrangement tied to interchange and industrial development projects. -Debt and capital schedule: the presenter showed existing debt-service numbers and projected a higher capital-expenditure profile in 2025–26 to start funding a planned capital program; he said that projected increases in the capital line create a surplus in the near term that would be used to seed the capital fund.

Questions and follow-up Board members requested additional detail and multi‑year projections so members could see how the proposed 2025–26 choices affect 2026–27 and beyond. Several members asked for a clearer presentation of fund-balance standing and longer-term staffing and benefit obligations tied to operating budgets; the finance presenter agreed to add multi‑year projections and a fund-balance summary for the upcoming meeting.

Public comment Bud Hackett, who identified himself with prior volunteer service at the Northampton County Industrial Development Authority, described the history of the tax‑increment financing arrangement and noted that the $7 million payment now being made to the district was expected as the bond obligation concluded. "Enjoy the $7,000,000," Hackett said, explaining the TIF’s role in enabling local industrial development and new tax revenue.

Ending The board set the budget back on the regular meeting calendar for further review and public availability; the finance team plans to present the proposed final budget on the timeline required for state filing and to return with expanded multi‑year projections requested by board members.