West York Area SD board approves several budgets, rejects York County School of Technology budget 0-6

The West York Area School District board approved its general operating budget and the York Adams Academy budget and adopted a voluntary early-retirement incentive, but it rejected the York County School of Technology budget in a 0-6 roll-call vote after sustained debate over a proposed 5% salary increase that board members called unsustainable.

An unidentified board member argued during debate that "an increase that exceeds index is not acceptable and unsustainable," citing a county index benchmark and a concern that a 5% across-the-board act 93 increase could be fiscally untenable. Another board member noted a staffing-related driver in the York County School of Technology budget: "191 staff members is driving a $705,000 increase to salaries," and contrasted those staffing counts with West York’s roughly 400 staff and about 2,800 students.

After discussion and a call for the question, the roll call on the York County School of Technology budget produced six 'No' votes and the motion did not carry. The board chair said the item will likely be revisited; one board member proposed forming a finance committee of the districts that voted against the budget.

Votes at a glance: • General operating budget (E-1): Approved by roll call, 6–0. • York Adams Academy budget: Approved by roll call, 6–0. • York County School of Technology budget: Motion failed on roll call, 0–6. • Early-retirement incentive (F-1): Motion made and seconded; approved by voice vote. • Financial statements (G-1): Approved by voice vote.

Board discussion also touched on adult-education finances and historical surpluses associated with COVID-related funding. One member said parts of the adult-education fund had rolled over post-COVID, noting roughly "$156,000 rolled over from adult ed into their fund balance," and that some of the previously reported $2.2 million figure reflected pandemic-era funds.

Why it matters: The York County School of Technology budget defeat transfers the item back to the joint operating committee and participating districts for rework, potentially delaying final adoption and affecting programs and staffing allocations. The debate highlighted tensions over negotiated act 93 increases, allocation of administrative costs, and whether short-term surpluses mask longer-term affordability concerns.

Next steps: Board members indicated they expect more detailed budget analysis in follow-up meetings; one director said a finance committee of the districts that voted down the budget will be recommended at a meeting next week. The board also requested clearer breakdowns of learning-support and specialized-classroom enrollment in future informational reports.