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Cornwall-Lebanon school board to adopt $110 million final budget, sets 2025-26 millage at 19.2114
Summary
At its June work session the Cornwall-Lebanon School District presented a near-$110 million final budget for 2025-26, explained changes from the proposed budget and detailed continued pressure from cyber charter tuition and retirement costs; formal adoption is scheduled for the June board meeting.
The Cornwall-Lebanon School District presented its final budget proposal for 2025-26 at the June public work session, projecting a total budget just under $110 million and a proposed millage rate of 19.2114 mills.
District business officials told the board the proposed budget shows an Act 1 index adjustment of 4.489 percent and uses assigned fund balance for one-time needs, including a $1.9 million Ready to Learn grant and technology and retirement set-asides. Assistant business staff said projected revenues total about $106.8 million, leaving an estimated gap covered by assigned fund balance.
Officials flagged two mandated and high-cost items: employer retirement contributions and tuition payments to outside cyber charter schools. Retirement costs were described as a large, rising obligation; presenters noted the state covers roughly half of the current retirement line item but cautioned the district must plan for future increases. For cyber charter tuition, the district reported about 182 students enrolled in outside cyber programs and a projected 2024-25 cost near $3.0 million, roughly $322,000 over budget. The administration proposed increasing the cyber charter line by 10 percent (about $257,000) for 2025-26 while continuing to monitor residency and state-level reform efforts.
The administration said it received an additional $300,000 in state property tax relief for distribution to homestead and farmstead properties, lowering the net tax impact for typical homeowners; staff estimated that a median assessed home would see about a $113 reduction under the July tax bills after the relief distribution. The presentation included procedural items: adoption of the final budget documents (PDE-2028), setting the millage rate at 19.2114, and formal adoption of the homestead/farmstead exclusion. Officials noted some uncertainty remains around final state and federal aid figures.
Board members asked for additional clarity on the cyber charter estimates and urged continued legislative advocacy for funding reform. Administration staff said they will finalize figures for the June budget vote and continue to monitor enrollment and state action.
The district plans formal adoption of the budget and related resolutions at the next board meeting; the work session presentation served as the staff briefing and public discussion ahead of that vote.
