Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Athens Area SD board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves roughly three‑mill tax increase
Summary
The Athens Area School District board approved the final 2025–26 general fund budget and a roughly three‑mill tax increase after a presentation on a $3 million local tax base decline, rising benefits costs and the end of one‑time federal funds.
The Athens Area School District board voted on June 17 to adopt the district’s final 2025–26 general fund budget and a tax increase described in the meeting as about three mills.
Dr. Stage, the district superintendent, presented the final budget, calling it “our final budget for 2526” and outlining the drivers behind the proposal. He said the district is facing a roughly $3 million decline in its local tax base and must account for the loss of $1.5 million in one‑time revenue and the exhaustion of ESSER federal funds. To narrow an initial $4.3 million projected shortfall, the budget includes reductions, reliance on assigned fund balance and a proposed 3.14‑mill tax increase “to address the gap.”
The superintendent highlighted cost pressures: roughly 72% of the district’s expenditures go to salaries and benefits; healthcare costs are…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
