Franklin Regional board adopts Act 1 resolution, keeping tax increase within 3.5% index

The Franklin Regional School Board on Jan. 12 adopted a resolution to remain within Pennsylvania's Act 1 index for the 2026–27 budget, a move the district's finance presenter said limits possible tax increases to 3.5%.

Mister Perry, presenting the finance committee recommendation, said, "This year, the district's Act 1 limit is 3.5%." He explained staying within the index would allow an increase of 4.05 mills and generate approximately $1,465,000 in revenue for the coming year and that the district expects to present a proposed budget in May and a final budget in June.

The board also heard an estimate of taxpayer impact: "For a median taxpayer, the Act 1 index would be about $140," Perry said, explaining that median assessed values used for the calculation were approximately $35,000, corresponding to a market value between $350,000 and $400,000.

After discussion the board took a roll call vote that passed 9–0. The vote formally begins the district's budget season; members said individual components of the budget will be examined by the finance committee and presented at upcoming board meetings through May and June.

The resolution does not set final tax rates; it determines whether the district will adopt a preliminary budget or instead resolve to limit tax increases to the Act 1 index, a statutory mechanism under Pennsylvania law that governs local school tax indexing. Next steps include additional finance-committee presentations and the board's May and June votes on proposed and final budgets.