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Boyertown Area SD presents proposed 1.9% tax increase to fund full‑day kindergarten hires and other staff
Summary
The Boyertown Area SD presented a proposed final budget featuring a 1.9% real‑estate tax increase, roughly $3 million in state adequacy funding and new hires to support full‑day kindergarten; administrators said the median homeowner impact after homestead/farmstead exclusions would be about $51.36 per year.
Mr. Lent, the district’s finance lead, told the board the proposed final budget carries a 1.9% real‑estate tax increase and is “one of the lowest tax increases that is on the table right now” among neighboring districts. He said state adequacy funding of about $3 million is included in revenue estimates and that revenues overall rise roughly 7% in the plan.
The proposal adds instructional and support positions tied to the district’s multi‑year plan for full‑day kindergarten: five professional teacher positions, five paraprofessional positions, three additional intervention full‑time equivalents, a high‑school ELL position and funding for up to six coaching positions pending participation. "We budgeted two full day kindergarten positions. This year, we're adding five professional positions," Lent said during the presentation.
Lent also explained the homestead/farmstead exclusion mechanics, noting Pennsylvania gaming proceeds fund the exclusion and that the district’s allocation rose modestly; he estimated the median assessed homeowner would see about a $51.36 annual increase after applying the exclusion. On expenditures, he said salaries and benefits align to actual staffing and benefit usage and that contracted services, charter placements and student‑placement costs drive a 5.75% rise in expenditures.
Board members asked for clarifications about delinquent real‑estate collections and why the district budgeted a lower delinquent collection figure this year despite a higher realized rate last year. Lent answered that delinquent collections can spike in a single year—often when a large commercial parcel pays or sells—and therefore the budget assumes a conservative recurring amount.
The administration said it will present the proposed final budget for approval at the May legislative meeting and file the required state forms, with final budget adoption slated for June 23. The board did not take a final budget vote at this discussion session.
