Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Jenkintown board adopts 4% tax increase in final 2025–26 budget, approves package of contracts
Summary
The Jenkintown School District on June 9 approved its final 2025–26 budget under option 2, a 4% tax increase that sets aside $150,000 for capital projects, and voted to approve a consent package of bills and contracts including facility and substitute-service agreements.
The Jenkintown School District board approved the district—s final 2025—26 budget on June 9, advancing a proposal that raises the tax rate by 4% and designates $150,000 for capital projects.
The board voted by voice during its combined work session and business meeting to accept consent items numbered 4.1 through 4.27, a package that the presiding official described as including payment of bills (about $2,600,000), treasurer reports, contract awards and the real-estate tax-levy and homestead/farmstead exclusion resolutions.
Why it matters: Board members framed the decision as an attempt to balance operating needs with longer-term capital planning. The district—s presenters said the 4% option (the Act 1 index) allows the district to set aside money to match grants and avoid future borrowing.
Key details: At the meeting the superintendent reviewed financials, saying the district has general-fund cash of about $1,999,353 and capital-projects funds of about $738,074; interim tax collections totaled roughly $14,956 and a county transfer about $7,985. The superintendent described district revenues around $17.9 million and expenditures near 87% of budgeted amounts.
Board debate centered on three budget options presented by the finance committee: a balanced-budget option with a 2.9% increase; option 2 (the adopted option) at 4% that provides $150,000 for capital; and an option at the adjusted Act 1 index (4.6%), which would have produced more capital capacity. "There were probably discussions ... pros, cons," the superintendent said, and "it was the agreement to move forward with option number 2 for full board approval during our meeting tonight." The board then approved the consent package by voice vote; the chair called for abstentions and oppositions and none were recorded.
Contracts and other items approved included the district—s regular payment of bills through August 2025, a one- or two-year engagement for building controls maintenance, the engagement of a property adviser to review assessments, and authorization to dispose of obsolete furniture and books. The board also approved a new substitute-service contract to be brought forward for the upcoming year.
What—s next: Administrators said they plan to continue preserving fund balance to meet future match requirements for grants and to reduce borrowing. The board adjourned to executive session for safety, security and negotiations matters and did not return to vote further that night.
