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Springfield board sets 2025–26 tax‑cap resolution at Act 1 index of 4.8%
Summary
The board approved a resolution that caps the maximum 2025–26 general fund millage increase at the state Act 1 index of 4.8%. Staff emphasized this is a procedural cap and not a decision to raise taxes to that level; staff said the district likely does not qualify for exceptions.
The Springfield School District board voted on Dec. 5 to approve a resolution stating that any 2025–26 general fund operating millage increase will not exceed the Pennsylvania Act 1 index of 4.8%.
School finance staff and a board member explained the resolution is the first formal step in the 2025–26 budget process and functions as a cap rather than a commitment to raise taxes to the maximum permitted amount. Staff outlined that available exceptions to the Act 1 limit — such as special education costs, pension/debt exceptions, or other statutory exemptions — are categorized by statute, but based on the district’s preliminary calculations they do not expect to qualify for those exceptions in the coming year.
The motion to adopt the resolution passed unanimously, recorded as carried 7–0. Board members noted the figure simply establishes the upper limit for budget planning and helps avoid additional filing burdens unless the district later pursues an exception or referendum process.
Next steps for the budget process include more detailed revenue and expenditure modeling by district finance staff in the coming months; the board did not set a specific millage increase at this meeting.
