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Altoona Area School District board votes to post preliminary budget with 3% tax increase
Summary
The Altoona Area School District board voted to post a preliminary general fund budget carrying a 3% tax increase for the 2026–27 fiscal year after debate over reliance on uncertain state aid and requests for additional historical revenue data.
The Altoona Area School District board voted to post a preliminary general fund budget that includes a 3% tax increase for the 2026–27 school year following a lengthy debate about state funding uncertainty and taxpayer impact.
The clerk provided the millage math the board used: the district’s current rate is 7.0877 mills; a 2% increase would raise that to 7.2295 mills and a 3% increase to 7.3003 mills. The clerk said, "At a 2% increase, a homestead‑exempt property would see about $10.17; at 3%, it would be about $15.26," and provided similar figures for non‑exempt properties.
Board members questioned how the district would cover projected shortfalls if state Ready‑to‑Learn funding arrived at different levels than budgeted. A staff member said the district budgeted conservatively for Ready‑to‑Learn funds but noted state allocations can swing materially: "We budgeted $6,000,000 for Ready‑to‑Learn but were given $9,000,000 this year," the staff member said, adding that receipts could vary.
Several board members expressed discomfort asking taxpayers to pay more without seeing three years of 'budgeted vs. actual' revenue data. One committee member said the difference in revenue between the two rate options is several hundred thousand dollars, and asked the administration to publish prior budgets and actual receipts before the next meeting so members could make a more informed decision.
Chair moved to post the preliminary budget with the 3% option. The motion carried by voice vote; the chair noted the tally was 6–3 to post the preliminary budget for public inspection and comment.
The board directed staff to provide the requested three‑year budget vs. actual revenue reports and other supporting materials before the next scheduled meeting. The posted preliminary budget will be available at the district business office and on the district website for public review.
Next steps: The board must keep the budget posted for the statutorily required period and may revise the tentative levy in later action depending on state funding updates and further review.
