Votes at a glance: Springfield School District board approves 2025–26 budget, tax levy, generator replacements and other measures

SPRINGFIELD, Pa. — The Springfield School District Board of School Directors voted on a slate of budget, contract and procedural items at its May 29 regular meeting, approving the district’s final 2025–26 general fund budget, a 2.95 millage increase, replacement of emergency generators at three schools and several other measures.

Board action highlights

• Final 2025–26 general fund budget: Approved (7–0). The board adopted a $93,622,451 expenditure budget for 2025–26 and approved a proposed 2.95 millage increase. The district projected it will need to use $1,363,000 of fund balance to close the budget gap. According to the district presentation, the proposed millage increase would generate $1,660,000 in local tax revenue; a property assessed at $200,000 would see an annual increase of $127, the median household would see $185 and a $450,000 home would see $286 under the proposal. The district noted increases in salary and benefits (+$2,316,399) and continued rising special-education costs (special-education subsidy covers about 16.56% of those expenses).

• 2025 annual tax levy (final): Approved (7–0). The board approved a final real-estate tax levy of 22.1783 mills for 2025–26 as part of the budget adoption.

• Homestead and farmstead exclusion resolution: Approved (7–0). The board authorized an assessed-value reduction of $13,678 per approved homestead/farmstead with a tax reduction example of $303.35 per qualifying property.

• Emergency generator replacements: Approved (7–0). The board awarded the public bid for replacement of emergency generators at D.T. Richardson Middle School, Saybolt Elementary and Scenic Hills Elementary to AJM Electric for $598,000. Pete Olson noted the work is planned for summer 2026 and that AJM was the lowest responsible bidder in a public process.

• Flexible instructional day application (2025–26): Approved (7–0). The board authorized submission of the district’s flexible instructional day application to the Pennsylvania Department of Education, allowing the district to use virtual learning days in lieu of adding make-up days for inclement weather per PDE rules.

• Real estate tax assessment appeals: Approved (6–1). The board authorized the solicitor to finalize settlements on two tax appeals. One settlement recognized a residential property owned by a nonprofit as 100% tax-exempt for tax year 2023 (and thereafter until use changes), and one commercial property settlement reduced assessed value and yields a district revenue decrease of approximately $151,776.78 for tax year 2024. Solicitor Mark Sereni explained the district’s appraiser had been involved and recommended settlement rather than costly litigation. Board member Jackie Sainz registered the lone no vote on this item.

• Personnel report (retirements, hires, leaves): Approved (7–0). The personnel report that night included the retirement of one administrator, retirements of certified and noncertified staff, one certified resignation and a certified hire, plus three FMLA requests.

• Delaware County Intermediate Unit (DCIU) board member appointments: Approved by roll call (7–0). The board nominated and confirmed the listed representatives to the DCIU board for terms July 1, 2025–June 30, 2028.

What board staff said

During the budget presentation, district staff said administrative reviews and vendor negotiations reduced an initial deficit. The district reported it had reduced the projected shortfall by $163,000 through departmental reductions and by locking in current-year pricing for technology purchases. The presenter noted the district expects to continue addressing outstanding tax appeals that could affect current and prior years’ revenues.

Votes and motions (selected)

- Consent agenda: Motion carried, 7–0. - Personnel report: Motion carried, 7–0. - AJM Electric bid for generator replacements ($598,000): Motion carried, 7–0. - Flexible instructional day application 2025–26: Motion carried, 7–0. - Real estate tax assessment appeal settlements: Motion carried, 6–1 (one no vote: Jackie Sainz). - Final 2025–26 general fund budget & tax levy: Motion carried, 7–0. - Homestead/farmstead exclusion resolution: Motion carried, 7–0. - DCIU board appointments (roll call): Motion carried, 7–0 (individual roll call recorded in meeting minutes).

Why it matters: The approved budget sets the district’s spending and local tax rate for the 2025–26 fiscal year, including a millage increase that will affect homeowner bills. The real-estate-tax-appeal settlements and ongoing appeal activity also affect district revenue projections and could require future refunds if appeals are settled retroactively.

Taper: The board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for June 26; staff and board members said they will continue to monitor tax appeals and budget implementation.