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Salisbury Township board adopts $46.26M 2024–25 budget amid taxpayer pushback
Summary
The Salisbury Township School District board approved a $46,255,898.51 budget for 2024–25 that sets the real-estate tax levy at 23.9449 mills. Two residents urged the board to re-examine spending and noted the district’s string of tax increases before the roll-call approval.
The Salisbury Township School District board on June 20 approved a $46,255,898.51 budget for the 2024–25 year that requires a real-estate tax levy of 23.9449 mills.
The approval came after public comment from residents who said taxpayers are already bearing repeated increases. “You’ll be voting on the school district’s sixteenth consecutive property tax increase,” John Schmidt said, urging the board to consider sustainability and pointing to national per‑student spending figures as a point of comparison. Resident Sean LaSalle pressed the board to look more closely at expenditures before approving a proposed 5.3 percent tax increase, saying the district ranks among the highest millage rates in the Lehigh Valley.
Board members debated financing choices and heard concerns from colleagues about relying on budgeted interest revenue for recurring costs. One member signaled a planned “no” vote prior to the roll call during discussion; the chair then moved to a roll-call vote and the board approved the budget as presented.
Why it matters: The budget sets local tax rates and funds staffing, operations and capital items for the coming school year. Residents and some board members asked for clearer communications on why levies must rise and whether recurring costs are being covered by nonrecurring revenues.
What the budget covers: Administrators presented the full budget figure and answered questions about fund balance assignments, budget-transfer authority and a Homestead/Farmstead exclusion resolution. The board also approved related finance items earlier in the meeting (fund balance assignment and transfers) and added the public-school facility grant resolution to the agenda as a clerical adjustment from grant administrators.
Votes at a glance: The board approved the 2024–25 budget (motion 4.1) following discussion and a roll-call vote. The motion was moved from the dais and seconded; the board accepted the motion and proceeded with formal vote per the agenda. The district will begin working on the following year’s budget immediately.
Next steps: Administration said it will continue outreach to stakeholders to explain drivers of the budget and to work on the 2025 budget cycle.
(Attributions: Public comments by John Schmidt and Sean LaSalle; budget presentation and motion from the Chair and district administration.)
