Spring-Ford board accepts proposed final budget; gap narrows to about $5.3 million, tax impact estimated at 3.67%

At its April 20 work session, the Spring-Ford Board of School Directors voted 8–0 to accept the district’s proposed final budget for 2026–27, a procedural step required under Act 1 that allows the board to move toward final adoption next month.

Mister Fink, who presented the budget, said the district narrowed the gap between projected revenues and expenses from about $5.9 million at the preliminary stage to roughly $5.3 million in the proposed final, which translates to a tax-impact estimate of about 3.67 percent. "The gap is now at about almost $5,300,000, which would be a tax impact of 3.67 percent," Mister Fink said.

Why it matters: the proposed-final acceptance starts the clock toward final adoption (board targets the May voting meeting for final action) and sets the public-facing estimate of how the budget could affect property owners. Mister Fink walked through revenue and expense drivers that reduced the gap, including a smaller-than-expected increase in health-insurance costs (consultants estimate near 3 percent), a payroll-rate adjustment that the presentation said yields roughly $500,000 in savings, and almost $1.4 million in lower special-education expenditures credited to internal program changes.

Details: the district’s total budget figures shown in the presentation moved from about $214.6 million to roughly $220.2 million year over year, an increase just under 3 percent. Wages and benefits remain the largest cost driver, accounting for roughly 70 percent of spending; the presentation listed about $4.9 million in total labor-related increases for the coming year, of which about $3.5 million was attributed to professional staff (teachers) and about $1.4 million to administrators and support staff. Transportation and facilities contract changes also contributed to higher non‑labor costs, while debt‑service declines and special‑education savings offset some of the pressure.

Board members pressed for clarity on several items. Dr. Wright asked that Doctor Gia Bautista address the community at a future meeting so residents understand why special-education costs fell and to ensure the reductions do not mean cuts to services. "I never want the community to think that we are looking for ways to shortcut our students that receive special ed services because that is not the case," Dr. Wright said.

Board procedures and next steps: board members were reminded the vote taken was to accept the proposed final budget, not to adopt the final budget. "Just a reminder that this is we are not voting to approve the budget today. This is just the one step toward the proposal," Dr. Wright said during the motion discussion. The district will continue committee-level review (finance committee meets May 12) and aims to adopt the final budget at the scheduled May voting meeting.

Estimated homeowner impact: the presentation illustrated how the Act 1 index compares to the proposed increase, noting the index is 3.5 percent; Mr. Fink calculated that a 3.5 percent increase equals roughly $191 per year for a $160,000 average assessed residential property in Springford, with somewhat higher amounts if the board adopts an increase above the index.

The board’s acceptance of the proposed final budget allows staff to publish required notices and continue final adjustments before the district’s May vote.