Wissahickon board approves proposed 2026–27 final budget with 5.18% tax increase

The Wissahickon School Board on April 27 approved a proposed final budget for the 2026–27 school year that the finance chair said carries a 5.18% property‑tax increase and a millage rate of 26.6.

The finance chair presented the plan as a proposal to meet debt‑service obligations and maintain programming and building maintenance. "We have to ensure that we have money to, like Steve said, improve our buildings, provide the programs that we need, pay our teachers," a board member said during discussion.

Board members debated the tradeoffs between service levels and tax impacts. One member, speaking as a longtime resident, said: "I do not take any property tax increase lightly. However, I recognize that the proposed 5.18% increase is necessary to sustain essential services, school quality, and community standards."

After discussion, a motion to approve the proposed final budget was made and seconded. The board completed a voice vote and the motion carried. The finance chair read the budget total during the meeting; meeting materials and the chair's remarks indicated a total roughly reported as $139,389,218.25 and the 26.6 millage, though the printed agenda materials should be consulted for the official adopted totals and line‑item detail.

The proposed final budget will return for formal adoption at the board's June meeting, when members will take a recorded vote on the final figures and any adjustments.

Actions: The board recorded a motion to approve the proposed final 2026–27 budget; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The motion text and vote were taken from the April 27 meeting record.