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Solanco board displays proposed 2026–27 budget; finance presenter warns of tighter year ahead
Summary
At the Steinger School Board meeting, Mrs. Tucker presented the proposed 2026–27 budget, citing uncertain state and federal funding, a projected $500,000 shortfall for 2026–27, and a proposed millage of 13.7352 mils (about $46.44 per $100,000). The board voted to display the budget for the required 30-day public comment period.
Mrs. Tucker presented the Steinger School District's proposed 2026–27 budget and asked the board to approve a resolution to display the draft for the required 30-day public comment period. She told the board that state and federal funding levels were not finalized and that the draft budget assumes reduced subsidies and grants.
"I am happy to report that my current analysis says we're going to be about 400,000 to the good," Mrs. Tucker said, describing current-year variance estimates, but she added that for 2026–27 she is estimating "about a half million" in deficit given continuing uncertainties in revenues and rising costs. She described health-care trends (medical costs around 9.2% and prescriptions about 11%) and noted that payroll and benefits account for roughly 63% of district expenditures.
Mrs. Tucker proposed using the Act 1 index (3.5%) to set the district millage at 13.7352 mils for 2026–27. "This would be an approximate tax increase per $100,000 property value of $46.44," she said, and displayed a county comparison showing Solanco has had among the lowest millage rates in Lancaster County for decades.
The presentation covered several budget drivers: uncertainty about state and federal allocations, a planned modest increase in district minimum wages to $14.50 to prepare for a possible state increase to $15, investments in building security and technology, an added autistic special-education classroom (one teacher reassigned and four aides budgeted), and a capital project fund with more than $30 million earmarked for construction and turf fields.
Board members asked whether fund balances were readily accessible, how new grants (including a Ready to Learn allocation) could be spent by deadlines, and about staff turnover that has affected special-education and maintenance staffing. Mrs. Tucker said the district's fund-balance strategy had grown reserves in recent years but projected a reduction of roughly $500,000 in the coming year if assumptions hold.
After questions, the board voted to approve a resolution to display and advertise the proposed 2026–27 budget for the 30-day public comment period. Final adoption and related homestead/farmstead and tax-levy resolutions are scheduled for a June board meeting following the public-display period.
