Pennridge board approves proposed 2025–26 budget in first vote, setting up a tax increase

The Pennridge School District Board of School Directors voted 5–3 in the first of two budget votes to approve the district's proposed 2025'26 general fund budget, setting the stage for a local property tax increase the administration says is needed to close a multi-million-dollar shortfall.

Board President Wirtz said the administration recommended a tax increase after the board and staff cut roughly $6.5 million from the district's proposed spending but still faced a remaining shortfall of about $3.3 million. "By voting against the tax increase, we're not acknowledging that our prior decisions have consequences, but playing political games during an election," Wirtz said during his opening remarks.

Why this matters: The administration presented the increase as necessary to pay for recent collective bargaining agreements and to avoid drawing down reserves in ways it warned would jeopardize programs and future capital needs. The proposed budget listed revenues and expenditures balanced at about $163,159,000 on the Pennsylvania Department of Education form referenced at the meeting.

Board and administration case for the increase Chief Operating Officer Sean Dahlberg (identified in the meeting) and multiple board members…