Tredyffrin‑Easttown board adopts $196.4 million 2025–26 budget, lists 1.3194‑mill increase
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Summary
On June 9 the Tredyffrin‑Easttown School District board approved a $196,416,579 2025–26 final budget, using $6,116,607 in committed fund balance and listing a millage rate of 29.6567 (an increase of 1.3194 mills); the vote was unanimous, 9–0.
Tredyffrin‑Easttown School District — The school board on June 9 adopted the district’s 2025–26 final budget, authorizing $196,416,579 in spending and recording a unanimous 9–0 vote.
Dr. Guzik, presenting the budget, told the board the district will serve “approximately 6,845 students” and highlighted recent academic and extracurricular achievements as context for the proposal. The presentation lists planned staffing additions including three special‑education teachers, a mental‑health specialist, two school psychologists, two reading specialists, an English‑language development teacher and eight STEM teachers, and includes capital funding for the new Bear Hill Elementary School, scheduled to open in 2027.
“Delivering this educational program in 2526 will cost an anticipated $196,416,579 in expenditures,” Dr. Guzik said during the presentation. Mr. McDonald reviewed revenue and fund‑balance numbers, telling the board the resolution shows $190,299,975 in revenue and a $6,116,607 fund‑balance commitment to balance the budget. He explained the district is proposing a 4% Act 1 index increase and a special‑education exception that together reduce, but do not eliminate, the operational deficit.
“The untreated budget has about a $9,900,000 gap,” Mr. McDonald said, and the combination of the Act 1 index and a special‑education exception reduces that gap to roughly $3,100,000; the district plans to use part of its fund balance and contingencies to bridge the remainder.
Board members who spoke supported the budget while urging careful expense control during the year. Dr. Hetinski said community support for Bear Hill Elementary and for full‑day kindergarten made her comfortable moving forward; Miss Tidi and Miss Audrain likewise voiced support for the staffing additions and the capital plan. After discussion, the board conducted a roll call and approved the resolution 9–0.
The budget packet identifies the millage rate in the resolution as 29.6567, an increase of 1.3194 mills from the current rate. The presentation also noted a Chester County property‑tax reduction allocation (gaming revenue) that reduces tax bills for eligible homestead and farmstead property owners.
The board noted the district will continue monitoring revenues and expenses through routine finance committee review; the administration said it will return with audit and fund‑balance updates as required.
