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Conestoga Valley board accepts proposed 2025–26 budget and authorizes public posting
Summary
The Conestoga Valley School District board accepted a proposed 2.5% millage-rate budget for 2025–26, authorized its public display and filing with the state, and recorded unanimous roll-call votes; staff said the plan still leaves a projected $1.4 million general-fund deficit and previewed a possible $25 million borrowing for Fritz Elementary renovations.
The Conestoga Valley School District board on a unanimous roll-call vote accepted the proposed 2025–26 budget, presented as a 2.5% millage-rate scenario, and authorized staff to publicly display, advertise and file the final budget notice with the state.
The budget presenter said the draft includes approximately $900,000 in capital expenditures, $377,000 of capital items proposed to be paid from the capital reserve, and $381,000 in new debt service. Staff projected a $1,400,000 deficit under the 2.5% scenario and told the board that raising the millage to 2.75% would reduce the shortfall by about $139,000.
The presentation included the district revenue mix (about 82% local revenue, roughly 15% state and about 1% federal) and a multi-year view of salary and benefit growth. Staff said annual salary/benefit increases average about $2 million per year and estimated an accumulated additional cost of roughly $9.8 million by the end of the current teacher contract.
Board members pressed staff on specifics, including which capital items could be shifted to reserves and how the district would manage risks if proposed state 'ready to learn' adequacy funding did not materialize. Staff also said Raymond James and bond counsel will meet with the board next week to review a resolution to borrow up to $25,000,000 toward the Fritz Elementary renovations; the borrowing resolution was previewed but not approved tonight.
The board’s motions and roll-call were recorded: S6 moved to accept the proposed budget as presented and S3 seconded; the clerk called the roll and each named member answered 'Aye.' Later, a separate motion (moved by S10, seconded by S6) authorized display/advertising and filing of the final budget notice; the clerk again recorded unanimous 'Aye' responses. Staff confirmed the district will post the budget publicly for at least 10 days to satisfy PDE notification requirements.
Next steps: staff will return with updated numbers if state funding details change, and the board will consider bond counsel recommendations on the proposed financing for Fritz renovations.
