Westchester board adopts $333.88 million 2025-26 budget, sets millage and homestead exclusion

The Westchester Area School Board approved a $333,879,004.99 general fund budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year and set real-estate millage rates for properties in Chester and Delaware counties at 23.3845 mills and 11.3681 mills, respectively.

The board also accepted state-provided homestead and farmstead exclusion funds that the district reported would equate to a $248.71 exclusion per qualifying property. The district's administration told the board the state provides those funds through gaming revenue designated for tax relief.

Why it matters: The budget and millage set district revenue and property-tax obligations for the coming school year and fund operations for 2025-26.

Most important facts: At the May 19 property and finance committee and again during the board meeting, administration staff reviewed the district's forecast and ten-year comparisons of mandated expenditures and state funding. The administration reported net savings of $924,000 in the current 2024-25 changes that will help reduce next year's budget gap; the committee said other adjustments reduced the 2025-26 gap by an additional $212,000.

The board took a roll-call vote to adopt the final budget resolution. Vice President Bev Lockwood, Director Herman, Director Parkinson, Director Dietrich, Director Ditry, Director Rye and Director Foreman voted yes; Director Womersley voted no. The motion carried.

Board members also approved a motion authorizing administration to commit fund balance for health-care and retirement stabilization and to assign fund balances for alternate education, athletics, property-assessment fluctuations and future staffing needs. The board's administration emphasized that final dollar amounts for assigned fund balances will be coordinated with the district's annual financial report to PDE (the Pennsylvania Department of Education) later this year.

Capital projects and construction escrow: The board approved the consent agenda, which included multiple capital-reserve project bid awards and a construction escrow agreement described at the meeting. The projects and contract awards described in the meeting record include: - Districtwide concrete sidewalk and curb replacement: award value $90,001.48 to UNIX Asphalt Services, Penwood (as presented to the committee). - Partial roof replacements and other roofing work at East High, Ruston and several other schools with multiple award amounts and contractors presented to the committee (dollar amounts and contractors were listed in the property and finance report and approved via the consent agenda). - A Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT) construction agreement with East Bradford Township for the Hillsdale Elementary School renovation requiring $1,271,304 to be placed in escrow with PLGIT.

What the board said: At the property and finance committee meeting, administration staff (Mister Scully) reviewed the calculations and recommended adoption. President Fleming called for the roll-call votes during the board meeting.

Next steps: Administration will finalize the specific dollar amounts for assigned fund balances in coordination with the annual financial report and proceed with awarded capital projects under the contracts approved by the consent agenda.

Votes at a glance: The final 2025-26 budget resolution was approved by roll call (7 yes, 1 no as recorded). The homestead/farmstead exclusion resolution and the annual tax-levy resolution were presented, moved and approved during the meeting; they were recorded as carried in the roll calls presented to the board.

Sources: Motions, committee reports, and roll-call votes reported during the Westchester Area School Board meeting on May 28, 2025.