Tredyffrin-Easttown board advances proposed final 2025–26 budget, authorizes $196.4 million spending cap

The Tredyffrin‑Easttown School District board voted unanimously April 28 to adopt resolutions authorizing the district’s proposed final 2025–26 budget.

Business manager Art McDonnell told the board the resolution establishes an authorized spending amount of $196,416,000. The presentation outlined a $6,000,000 capital transfer to the district’s capital fund and a $3,000,000 contingency included in the authorized spending amount. McDonnell said the district removed retirees from salary lines and used lower‑scheduled replacements and some contracted services to reduce projected deficits; he emphasized the vote tonight does not lock in a tax rate and the proposed final can change before the June final vote.

Board members questioned the local tax impact if anticipated federal education funding were lost. McDonnell cited data from the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials that translated the potential loss into roughly a 0.2% property tax increase to make up the dollars on the federal side, if that scenario occurred.

The board heard no public comments on the budget at the meeting. After discussion the motion to adopt the resolutions authorizing the proposed final budget was moved and seconded and approved 9–0.

Votes at a glance • Consent agenda (items listed on page 8 of the packet) — approved 9–0 (motion moved by Speaker 6; seconded Speaker 7). • Proposed final 2025–26 budget resolution — approved 9–0 (motion moved by Speaker 8; seconded Speaker 7). • Policies listed for first reading (see board packet) — approved 9–0.

What happens next The district will continue to refine budget details at finance‑committee meetings and in a subsequent public board meeting before taking a final vote in June. McDonnell reiterated that line‑item adjustments are possible between the proposed final and the final budget vote.