Tredyffrin-Easttown board approves $196.4 million proposed final budget; tax rate still unset

Tredyffrin-Easttown School District board President Kantorsik presided as the board voted 9-0 April 28 to adopt a proposed final budget for fiscal year 2025–26 that authorizes $196,416,000 in spending. Business manager Art McDonald presented the proposal and answered board questions during the meeting at Conestoga High School.

The vote approved an authorization amount that incorporates an estimated budget deficit of about $3.1 million plus a $3.0 million contingency fund balance commitment. McDonald told the board, “you’re just approving an authorized spending amount. You’re not approving a tax rate at this meeting.” The district will return to the board in June to adopt a final budget and — if needed — set a tax rate.

Why it matters: the adoption permits administration to continue spending and staff work toward a final budget while preserving the board’s option to adjust revenues or spending before final adoption. McDonald said the packet includes revenue from the Act 1 index and a special education exception — the district included roughly $6.8 million in special-education-related revenue in its calculations — and that the proposed appropriation reflects those assumptions.

Board members asked about the potential loss of federal education funding. A board member identified as Audrey asked what property-tax impact would be required if federal funding is reduced; McDonald and board discussion cited a statewide association estimate that the shortfall would equate to roughly a 0.2% property-tax increase to replace the federal dollars. Board member Mary Ann Piccione also noted earlier comments that Chester County Intermediate Unit leadership had flagged federal-grant risk at a separate meeting.

McDonald described steps the administration used to reduce the spending projection, including removing retirees from the salary roll and replacing them with hires on lower steps, shifting some positions to contracted services, and eliminating duplicated salary entries in the payroll module. He said benefits remain a large share of personnel cost (roughly 40% of salary costs), and the administration continues to refine estimates through May and into the June final-budget vote.

The board approved the proposed final budget by voice vote, recorded as 9 yes, 0 no. The resolution passed tonight authorizes the district to continue budgeted spending consistent with the figures in the board packet; it does not finalize tax rates or preclude changes in June.

Looking ahead: the administration will present a final budget for board adoption at the June meeting. McDonald and finance committee members said the packet and upcoming finance meetings will include refinements if material changes arise before final adoption.