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Penn Manor School District presents draft 2025–26 budget with 3.5% tax scenario; board to consider $1 million capital transfer
Summary
Business manager presented a draft 2025–26 budget showing $115,212,924 in expenses and $114,462,741 in revenue, described a 3.5% tax scenario (about $90/year for the median home) and recommended a one‑time $1,000,000 transfer to capital reserve; the board will consider the proposed final budget at its June voting meeting.
Penn Manor School District officials on May 19 presented a proposed final 2025–26 budget and outlined capital needs that would be discussed at the June voting meeting.
Mr. Ford, the district’s business manager, said the PDE form in the board packet lists “115,212,924 in expenses and 114,462,741 in revenue,” a disparity he attributed to an emergency contingency that remains in the draft. He described the tax scenario included in the packet as a 3.5% increase and said, “With 3.5% would result in about a $90 per year increase to the average home.”
The presentation proposed routeing some of the one‑time revenue to capital needs. Mr. Ford recommended that the board “transfer 1000000 dollars from the general fund to capital reserve,” describing it as a one‑time transfer tied to higher‑than‑expected state revenues and contingent items.
Why it matters: the budget numbers and a proposed tax increase affect residents’ property tax bills and the district’s ability to fund maintenance, vehicle replacements and planned projects. Mr. Ford said the draft also includes an updated projection for future projects totaling about $2,511,500 and retains a $750,000 contingency that is contingent on the state budget outcome.
Board members asked for additional detail about capital work and operating choices. Discussion covered the most immediate maintenance needs — replacement of a frequently used 2010 handicap van, a 2012 utility vehicle, custodial equipment refresh ($20,000), and roof repairs at Eshelman where vendors are still assessing the extent and cost of water intrusion. On the van, Mr. Ford said the vehicle is used daily for special‑education transportation and field trips and that the full purchase price reflects equipment costs in addition to the chassis.
The superintendent described the timing of the budget process and reminded members that the board asked at the prior meeting that the proposed final budget be placed on the voting agenda later this month. Mr. Ford recommended the board “pass the proposed final budget as presented” at the voting session, but final adoption and related actions — setting the tax rate and approving homestead/farmstead exclusions — were scheduled for later June meetings.
Next steps: the board will review and vote on formal budget adoption and related tax‑rate items at the district’s June voting meetings.
