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District staff presents 2026–27 draft budget showing $5.3 million projected ending balance; no tax increase proposed
Summary
District staff presented draft 2 of the 2026–27 general fund budget: beginning fund balance $13.53 million, projected net increase $8.23 million and an ending fund balance of about $5.30 million. The plan includes a $1.7 million Horizon payment and a $500,000 high‑school HVAC line and assumes no tax increase.
A district finance presenter laid out the Ambridge Area School District’s draft 2 general fund budget for 2026–27, saying the plan starts with a $13,530,565 beginning fund balance and projects a net increase of $8,230,983 that would leave an ending balance of about $5,299,582.
The presenter emphasized that the draft reflects no tax increase and noted two major, single‑year components affecting the projection: a $1.7 million Horizon payment and a $500,000 high‑school HVAC project. The presenter also cautioned that the numbers are projections and will change as the district moves toward the April and May adoption dates.
On the expenditure side, the presenter broke costs into object codes: total expenditures were reported at $66,540,450; salaries total $18,832,726 (an increase of $98,831 tied to contractual salary adjustments); benefits were $12,336,448 (up $288,814), driven mainly by a 9% health‑care rate increase and a 3.8% rise in retirement contributions. The presenter said state reimbursements cover 50% of retirement expense and that the district’s PSERS rate decreased slightly from 34% to 33.59%.
Operational and capital items highlighted included transportation increases tied to a 4.5% contract CPI adjustment, tuition increases for cyber and special‑placement schools, the purchase of 600 new Chromebooks (a tech lab replacement and device rollout), PA systems for multiple buildings and contingency funds that require board approval to expend.
On revenue, the presenter said local revenue was projected at roughly $28.45 million, reflecting a collection rate increase from 86% to 88%, and that state revenue includes Ready to Learn block grants and related adequacy funds; federal revenue was cited at a little over $1 million with projected decreases in some Title allocations.
The presenter said monthly updates will follow as numbers are refined and said the board is expected to adopt the proposed final budget at its April 8 meeting and the final budget on May 13.
The presentation prompted questions about specific line items and timing; the presenter reiterated that many figures are projections through the end of February and will be adjusted before final adoption.
