Mount Pleasant board approves proposed final 2026-27 budget, sets two-mill tax ceiling

The Mount Pleasant Area School District board voted 6–3 on May 6 to approve a proposed final budget for the 2026–27 school year that projects a $561,779 deficit and sets a two-mill tax increase as a ceiling for the final budget vote in June.

The presentation, given by Mr. Duritza, laid out the budget’s revenue and expense assumptions. He said the district’s proposed final revenue is $40,111,686 and that the deficit has improved from a preliminary $1.2 million to $561,779. "We are now at a deficit of $561,779," Duritza said during his presentation. The budget assumes continued use of about $57,000 in USDA commodities and an estimated ending fund balance of about $5.5 million.

The budget includes a two-mill tax increase in the proposed final to provide a cushion while the district waits for final state subsidy figures. Duritza explained the two-mill figure is a ceiling under the Act 1 timetable and that the district often works down from the proposed ceiling before the final vote. He also cited revenue uncertainty from state and federal grant allocations and a modest property-tax relief allocation (an increase of $1,076 in the district’s share).

Board members asked procedural and fiscal questions before the roll-call vote: how equipment financing is scheduled, what voting tonight means for the final vote in June, and potential revenue from relisting district-owned property. In the roll call, the board recorded six yes votes and three no votes; the motion passed.

The proposed final budget will be placed on display for 30 days at the administration office and on the district website and returns to the board for a final vote by June 30 under state timelines.

Votes at a glance: the roll call produced six votes to approve and three votes opposed; the board’s clerk announced "Motion passes."