Pennsbury board details $269.5 million high school plan and shares worst‑case tax examples

Superintendent Dr. Smith told the Pennsbury School Board on Sept. 18 that the district’s high school consolidation and new‑build project is projected to cost $269,500,000 and would be funded through a series of general obligation bonds rather than a single lump‑sum borrowing. He urged the public to submit written comments on the Act 34 filing by Oct. 6 at 4:00 p.m. and pointed attendees to project materials and FAQs on the district website.

Why it matters: the board said the plan would consolidate two aging high‑school campuses into one building aimed at improving safety, modernizing learning spaces and reducing long‑term operating and maintenance costs. Those benefits, the administration said, come with near‑term tax implications that the board is attempting to present transparently.

“We will be borrowing over time when needed as the project continues,” Dr. Smith said, explaining the district will use a construction draw schedule and issue bonds as costs occur. He emphasized the district’s goal is to seek grants and other offsets wherever possible.

The administration presented a set of worst‑case scenarios based on current interest‑rate and Act 1 index assumptions. Using the district’s illustrative examples — which the superintendent described as “worst case” and subject to change as bond rates and state indices move — a homeowner with a historically low assessed value example ($21,600) was shown to face combined near‑term increases described in the presentation as a roughly $193.89 net change across the two‑year illustration when state homestead rebates were applied. Dr. Smith noted those figures assume the district and state rates remain at current projections and that actual tax impacts will change with bond rates and policy adjustments.

Board members and administration reiterated the figures posted online and said the district will continue to update the public as interest‑rate conditions change. The superintendent added the district is pursuing federal and state grant opportunities and local fundraising to reduce borrowing needs.

Next steps: the Act 34 process remains open to written comment through Oct. 6, 4:00 p.m.; the district said all reports, environmental reviews and financial presentations will remain posted in the high‑school project section of the district site.

Ending: the board continues project planning and will return with more detailed design and financing steps as bids, interest rates and grant responses firm up.