Abington SD schedules middle school open house as residents press for clarity on tax increase

The Abington Board of School Directors on April 14 announced an April 21 open house to review designs for the new Abington Middle School and urged residents to submit questions through a QR code or at 1ASD1Future.org; a livestream will be available for remote attendees. Board leaders said questions submitted in advance will be read aloud during the event and posted online.

The meeting’s public-comment periods focused on the district’s preliminary 2026–27 budget and a projected tax increase that residents said has caused confusion. Caller Connie Briggs said she had spoken with the district chief financial officer and Montgomery County voter services and found that the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s approval of $4.8 million in debt-related authority appears to translate to about a 7.1% tax increase under the district’s preliminary assumptions — not the 10.81% figure circulated on social media — and emphasized that the PTE approval sets an upper limit rather than a required final rate. "This appears to translate to a total tax increase of about 7.1%, not 10.81%...ASD still appears to have a choice about whether to tax us for the full amount or not," Briggs said.

Board and staff said the district’s proposed final budget is due May 12 and that the board must adopt a final budget by June 30; public comment will be allowed at the board meeting where the budget is presented. In response to questions from callers and board members, administration said the district will post answers and frequently asked questions on the project site and email link on the middle school design page, and that the FAQs are on the landing page of 1ASD1Future.org. "Questions that we don't get to at the meeting will be answered subsequently," an administrator said.

Several residents urged greater in-person engagement and transparency in the open-house format. Public commenter Joe Rooney said the board "owe[s] Dr. Swift a public apology" for a prior incident and urged more face‑to‑face discussion. Other residents pressed the board on how capital funds already disbursed to design work and geotechnical studies (about $4.8 million noted in discussion as authorized by bond proceeds) have been spent and what remains in the capital plan.

Votes at a glance: the board approved routine minutes and several consent items, including the personnel addendum, permits for use of buildings and grounds, advertisement for bids for transportation services, awards of two technology contracts, authorization of IDEA (IDEA Part B) pass-through funds with the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit, and a first reading of a revised food service policy. Where recorded, the items passed on roll-call votes with board members recorded as voting in favor.

Why it matters: The middle school construction and the related capital and operating decisions will affect the district's long-term debt service and local property-tax bills. Residents who commented asked the board to be explicit about the choices the district can make to reduce the final levy, and staff committed to publicly posting detailed budget materials and answers to submitted questions ahead of the May timeline.

Next steps: The district will host the April 21 open house (Little Theater, 6:30 p.m.) with a live stream and post Q&A responses on 1ASD1Future.org. The proposed final budget documents are due May 12; the board is scheduled to vote on a final budget before the end of June.