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Board approves preliminary 2025–26 budget and authorizes $300,000 draw from unassigned fund balance
Summary
The Perkiomen Valley board voted to use $300,000 from unassigned fund balance and approved a preliminary 2025–26 general fund budget with a 3.79% tax impact; administration said the action leaves estimated unassigned reserves at about 5.92 percent of expenditures.
The Perkiomen Valley School District board approved two finance motions: a $300,000 use of unassigned fund balance and preliminary adoption of the 2025–26 general fund budget.
Use of unassigned fund balance Business officials presented updated projections showing the district’s projected unassigned fund balance at about $8.12 million before any planned uses. The finance presentation recommended using $300,000 of unassigned fund balance to help close the 2025–26 budget gap; doing so, presenters said, would leave an estimated unassigned fund balance at about 5.92 percent of next year’s projected expenditures.
The motion to use $300,000 passed on a roll call vote: Mr. Fountain — yes; Mr. Keenan — yes; Mr. Leggett — no; Mr. McKinney — yes; Dr. Sadler — yes; Mr. Sailor — no; Ms. White — yes. The board recorded the vote during the meeting’s finance section.
Preliminary general fund budget The board then approved the district’s preliminary general fund budget for 2025–26 by voice vote. Administrators said the preliminary budget shows total general fund revenues and expenditures consistent with the district’s current revenue assumptions and an overall proposed tax effect of 3.79 percent. Administration presented an estimated shortfall figure and said the projection reflected a net expenditure adjustment of about $87,000 from the previous month’s projection (including a $117,000 downward adjustment due to final employee compensation assumptions and an added $30,000 for referee and tournament fees in specific athletics programs).
Officials provided the board with additional budget details: a preliminary general fund total near $133 million (presentation slides), an estimated average taxpayer assessed at $180,000 would see an annual tax increase of approximately $254 under the preliminary budget, and a projected $75,000 loss in the food service fund for 2024–25 that will be discussed at final budget action.
Why it matters: administration said keeping reserves near commonly recommended levels protects the district’s bond and cash‑flow position; board members who voted against using unassigned fund balance said they preferred holding the reserve at or above the 6 percent threshold if possible. District staff said investment interest movements and final state budget actions will be monitored and could change final reserve estimates before June’s final budget vote.
Next steps The board’s vote approved only the preliminary budget; under state practice the district must adopt a final budget at its June meeting. Administration said it will continue to monitor revenues (including earned income tax and investment earnings) and expenditures, and will update directors before final adoption on June 9.
Ending: The board approved the two finance motions to allow the district to meet preliminary budget‑notice timelines; administration will return in June with final budget figures and any recommended adjustments.
