TESD finance committee reports $8 million revenue increase; budget work to continue ahead of June adoption

The Tredyffrin‑Easttown School District finance committee reported higher year‑to‑date revenues and outlined next steps for the 2025–26 budget during committee reports at the board’s Feb. 24 meeting.

Finance committee chair Dr. Roberta Hatinski said overall revenues are about $8 million higher than last year, driven primarily by real estate taxes, real estate transfer taxes and investment income. Total revenue as of January was reported at a little more than $157 million; general fund expenses and encumbrances totaled $154,615,479 and the district has expended roughly 47.12% of its budget to date.

Instruction expenses are running at about 92% of the budget category, Hatinski said, and the increase reflects costs in both regular and special‑education programs. The committee emphasized that the final budget is not adopted until June and that projections will change through the spring as health‑care cost projections are finalized and future debt service decisions are made.

Assistant (or district finance presenter) Mr. McDonald reviewed capital‑project funding scenarios for upcoming infrastructure work, including the athletic fields project and a new elementary school. The scenarios included a mix of general‑fund contributions and borrowing through bonds, consistent with the district’s past practice; the committee will continue to refine plans in budget workshops in March and April. The district also reported that an Act 1 exception request for special education was submitted to the Pennsylvania Department of Education and is pending approval.