Gettysburg Area SD board approves proposed final budget, recommends 1.5% tax index for advertising

The Gettysburg Area School District board voted to approve a proposed final budget and to advertise a 1.5% millage index increase at its meeting. The proposal groups 1.0 percentage point for ACTI and 0.5 percentage point for other district operations and will be advertised for 30 days before the public budget hearing and the board’s final vote in June.

Board business official Belinda Wallen presented the proposed-final figures, saying district revenue for the budget year was shown at $77,205,051 and total expenditures at $79,186,037, producing a projected deficit of roughly $1.6 million. Wallen said the district’s policy target is a 6% fund balance, which would be $4,751,162 on the expenditures shown. She described proposed increases and planned use of fund balance and PCRs to narrow the gap ahead of the final vote.

Wallen outlined headline components of the spending plan: salaries and benefits totaling $47,415,637; object‑series 300 professional services and IU costs; 500‑series large tuition and transportation costs; and increased costs tied to cybersecurity and an ACTI bond payment. She said reductions included lower workers’ compensation costs, lower IU and event security expense, and a scaled‑back five‑year capital plan. She also noted the district had already factored in assessment appeals that could reduce revenue by about $100,000.

Wallen gave the board an illustrative taxpayer impact: for the district’s average assessed value of $273,881, the net effect of the recommended 1.5% increase after homestead/farmstead adjustments would be about $17.44 a year. She also said one percentage point of tax increase equals roughly $377,536 in revenue for the district.

Board members asked about revenue-to-date reports; Wallen said the board receives a monthly budget‑to‑actual report (one month behind). Board discussion touched on whether the 1.5% index could be reduced later by board direction to cut expenditures; Wallen said reductions would require directed cuts and she did not expect additional state revenue.

The motion to approve the proposed final budget for advertisement passed on a roll call vote at the meeting. Board members recorded as voting yes were Alice (last name not specified in transcript), Al (board member), Jeremy (board member), Mike (board member), Kenny (board member) and the presiding pro tem; Michelle cast a recorded no vote. The board president and vice president were absent; the board had appointed a pro tem president at the start of the meeting to preside.

The approved proposal is a “proposed final” only; the board must advertise it for 30 days and hold a public hearing before taking a final budget vote in June. Wallen said if the board does not approve a proposed final at this meeting, the district would need a special meeting to meet statutory timelines.