Marple Newtown committee previews $3.9 million gap in proposed 2026–27 budget; April 28 vote planned

The Marple Newtown School Board’s budget and finance committee on April 14 reviewed a proposed 2026–27 final budget that administration said would leave the district about $3.9 million short of a structurally balanced budget without new revenue or one-time funds. The board will be asked to accept the proposed final budget at the April 28 voting meeting; state rules require a 30-day public-inspection period before final adoption, which the administration said will likely push a final vote to June 23, 2026 unless the board schedules an earlier special meeting.

Dom, a district staff member leading the presentation, said the shortfall reflects a combination of revenue declines and rising costs. "The school district would need just shy of $4 million or $3.9 million to balance a budget," he said, and added that a 3.5% levy increase at the Act 1 index would still leave "a shortfall of around $850,000." The administration tied revenue pressure to commercial tax appeals that reduced assessed value (about a $900,000 hit) and to falling investment income as interest rates decline.

On the expenditure side, Dom cited salaries and benefits as the largest drivers — more than 60% of the district budget — and said benefit costs include a large jump in prescription expenses. "The district is recognizing over a 34% increase in our prescription plan this year," he said, calling prescription-cost inflation a major contributor to the budget gap. Overall expenditures were presented as rising about 2.58%, or just under $3 million, compared with the current year.

To narrow the gap, the administration proposed a combination of adjustments and one-time uses. Presenters proposed increasing the district activity fee from $75 to $100 per student (capped at $200 per family), effective July 1, 2026, while reducing the one-to-one device enrollment fee from $50 to $25 per student. The packet also lists assigned fund-balance expenditures the district would treat as one-time items — band and football uniforms, replacement of unsupported finance software, shot clocks and stadium speakers, and a swim timing system — with the board voting on each purchase separately.

The administration called out other revenue items: modest state funding increases tied to the recently passed state budget, an uncertain Title-funding outlook at the federal level, and an uptick in transfer-tax receipts related to local home sales and development. The budget assumes a 97.5% tax collection rate (2.5% delinquency) in its revenue estimates.

Committee members discussed timing for the required advertising and whether to advertise a special meeting in May so the district could vote earlier and avoid time pressure on tax-billing preparation in June. No special meeting date was set during the committee session.

The packet also records donations and operational items tied to the budget. The district reported a $17,828.63 donation from the Giant Company (described as funds accumulated via community 'round up' and past checks recovered) and a $7,500 donation from Adopt a Classroom designated for Lumis Elementary teachers. Administrators proposed a one-year extension of four bus leases with Wolfington Body Company to better align replacement schedules and placed a placeholder on the agenda for a potential 2026 bond refunding and issuance related to future construction planning.

Next steps: the board is scheduled to vote to accept the proposed final budget on April 28, after which the proposed final budget will be made available for a 30-day public inspection period before a likely final adoption on June 23, 2026 unless the board advertises and holds an earlier special meeting.