Kennett board releases $112.2 million preliminary budget, estimates 4.17% real‑estate tax increase

The Kennett Consolidated School District board voted Monday to release a $112,176,399 preliminary budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year and to authorize public notice and comment.

The preliminary budget, presented by Finance Committee Chair Finnegan and Treasurer Mark Tracy, assumes no additional borrowing for the two new elementary-school projects and seeks to apply for an Act 1 referendum exception to exceed the 3.5% Act 1 index because of rising special-education costs. “The preliminary budget real estate tax increase is going to be right now 4.17%,” Finnegan said.

District officials said the plan does not use fund-balance reserves and does not include additional funding for new positions; it proposes reductions of five professional positions and one administrative assistant through attrition or reclassification and identifies an $814,231 reduction in contracted services tied largely to changes in special‑education contracts. Tracy reported the district is projecting about $3.8 million in additional revenue if the tax increase is approved.

Officials estimated the impact on the average assessed home. Finnegan said the increase would be about $268 per year for a house assessed at $500,000; homes assessed higher or lower would see proportionately different changes.

Board members pressed administration on potential reductions and on contingency plans if state or federal funding shifts. Board member Marsh said, “An increase is an increase is an increase,” and asked administration to further scrutinize staffing and contracts in the months before the final budget in June.

The district will post the preliminary budget on its website and accept public comment at the superintendent’s office through June 8, 2026, before returning with a final budget in June. The motion to release the preliminary budget passed on a voice vote.