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Board hears proposed 2025-26 budget and approves routine disbursements, settlements and personnel actions
Summary
Business officer presented a proposed 2025-26 budget showing a 4% Act 1 index (presenter explained assessed-value effects reduce the effective change), projected 3.34% expenditure increase, use of reserves to balance a shortfall, and planned capital projects including two solar grant applications; the board approved disbursements, tax-assessment settlement and a slate of personnel and program motions by voice vote.
Mister Testa presented the Haverford Township School District's proposed 2025-26 budget at the April 3 board meeting, summarizing revenue projections, federal carryover changes and proposed expenditures. "We did look at the Act 1 index. We do know that, 4% is what's scheduled for next year," Testa said, adding that changes in assessed value produced an effective 3.73% change on the district's tax rate calculation.
Testa told the board that a drop in federal ESSER carryover and some title carryover funds contributed to a decrease in federal revenue for 2025-26; he flagged the food-service federal reimbursements as a significant revenue stream (noting a little over $1.1 million in 2023-24) and said a sustained loss of federal funds would force staffing prioritization and potential reductions. Proposed expenditures were presented as roughly a 3.34% increase, with salaries and benefits the largest component. Testa said the district plans to use a combination of unassigned fund balance and committed reserves to balance the budget if needed and highlighted a $1,000,000 reservation for capital projects.
On capital items, Testa reviewed two applications to the Solar for Schools program (for Chatham and Lynnwood). He gave a cost estimate for Lynnwood of $676,000 with expected grant and credits leaving an estimated net district cost of about $240,000 if the grant award and tax-credit flows materialize. The district will learn DCED's award decisions in May; Testa noted hope for additional state funding in future budgets.
The board conducted several routine actions on the agenda by voice vote: approval of minutes (motion passed), approval of disbursements totaling $1,230,239.02, authorization to settle and stipulate in pending tax-assessment appeals (court of common pleas of Delaware County), acceptance of listed retirements, and approvals of contingent staff appointments. The board also approved student educational excursions and an agreement with Kutztown University for literacy-intern placements. Most votes were called by voice; no named roll-call tallies were recorded in the transcript.
Testa closed the budget portion by noting adoption steps and timelines: the board will adopt the proposed final budget on April 24 (advertisement and public-inspection steps to follow) with the final adoption scheduled for June 5.
No formal cuts were approved at this meeting; Testa warned that a significant loss of federal funds would force staffing-prioritization decisions in future budget cycles.
