Unionville-Chadds Ford presents final 2024–25 budget, homestead allocation and modest lunch-price increase

At the June 10 work session, district finance director Mr. Dady reviewed the finance items that will be included on the June 17 agenda: the final 2024–25 budget, homestead/farmstead allocation, and recommended school-lunch price increases.

The proposed final budget — the same document approved as the proposed final in May — lists total revenues and expenditures at approximately $105,800,000. The district presented millage rates of 32.661 mills in Chester County and 18.57 mills in Delaware County, which produce a weighted average tax-rate increase of 3.99 percent.

The Homestead/Farmstead allocation the district received totals $2,272,000, an increase from $1,800,000 in the current year; when distributed across 6,576 approved homesteads the allocation results in a $345.65 reduction to those parcels’ tax bills (compared with $283.85 last year), the finance director said.

On student meals, the administration recommended a 10¢ increase in elementary and middle-school lunch prices — roughly a 3 percent change — to help offset grocery‑cost increases and the end of some emergency state funding. The food-service program reported year-on-year increases in participation: lunches served were up 9 percent (over 212,000 lunches) and breakfasts up 20 percent (just over 50,000), while grocery bid costs are rising (7 percent projected for next year after previous larger increases).

Board members asked clarifying questions about millage-rate choices and the composition of the homestead allocation; no final vote occurred at the work session.

Next steps: The budget, homestead allocation and lunch-price items are scheduled for board action at the June 17 meeting.