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Abington board hears budget update; PDE approves $4.83M referendum exception tied to middle school project
Summary
The Abington Board of School Directors was presented with a proposed 2026–27 general fund budget and a Pennsylvania Department of Education referendum exception of $4,830,826. Staff said the combined illustrative Act 1 and referendum mills would increase a typical homestead tax bill by roughly $28.92 per month under current estimates.
The Abington Board of School Directors on April 28 received an update on the proposed 2026–27 general fund budget, including a Pennsylvania Department of Education-approved referendum exception of $4,830,826 that district officials said would support interest and debt service tied to a planned middle school project.
Budget presentation and why it matters Miss Danakola told the board the district filed its referendum-exception application March 2 and received PDE approval March 26, 2026, for $4,830,826. She said that sum represents expected interest expense and debt-service impacts from bonds related to a middle school project and estimated that, together with an Act 1 index increase of 3.5%, the combined millage change would amount to an illustrative $28.92 monthly increase for the median homestead under current assessed-value assumptions.
Board members pressed for clarity on how the increase would appear to taxpayers and how the district will reduce reliance on fund balance. Danakola said the referendum portion of the millage will be shown as a separate line item on tax bills and that numbers are still contingent on final county assessed values and the state education budget.
What the board and public asked During Q&A, board members and residents asked whether the district can further reduce planned use of fund balance (Danakola said the preliminary budget included about $2.4 million in use of fund balance and staff are pursuing attritional savings) and how attritional savings will be achieved. Dr. Fetcher and budget staff said the district is examining retirements and unfilled positions, insurance and procurement bids, and other cost-avoidance measures to lower personnel and benefit cost growth.
Public reaction and next steps A public commenter, Joe Rooney, sharply criticized the pace of spending and urged deeper personnel cuts; district leadership replied that headcount reductions are being evaluated and that personnel represent roughly 75% of the budget. Danakola said the proposed final budget will be presented May 12 and the district’s final general fund budget (including a homestead/farmstead exclusion resolution) is scheduled for adoption June 23. Any millage or referendum figures will be updated after final assessed values and the state budget are known.
The board did not adopt the final budget at the April 28 meeting; members were briefed and votes on the final proposal are scheduled in subsequent meetings.
