Wyoming Area School Board advances proposed 2026-27 budget after debate over millage rebalancing between counties

The Wyoming Area School Board on May 20 voted to authorize public advertisement of a proposed final general fund budget for fiscal 2026-27 that lists $49,679,275 in expenditures and reflects options for local millage adjustments.

During a lengthy presentation, budget consultant Mr. Malone reviewed a 10-year financial history and said the district’s 10-year average shows revenue about $110,000 over expenses but that current projections show a structural shortfall if no state revenue or tax increases materialize. “If you took the average of those 10 years … revenue would exceed expenses by about $110,000,” Malone said, stressing that the district’s audited fund balance would decline under several scenarios.

Administration presented three local tax options: a 0% change, a 2.4% adjustment and the full Act 1 index at 4.8%. Malone explained that because Wyoming Area spans two counties, a state-required rebalancing form reallocates last year’s mills using assessed and market values, producing larger effective increases in Wyoming County than in Luzerne County under the same district-wide decision. "Even if we do nothing, Wyoming County would go up 5.46% and Luzerne County would go down 0.21% because of rebalancing," Malone said.

The superintendent and finance staff highlighted several budget drivers: state funding makes up roughly 44% of the district’s revenue, salary and benefits account for about 66.61% of expenditures, healthcare costs for employees rose roughly 14.17% and charter/cyber tuition has grown to about $2.8 million. The administration also noted the district will lose a separate meritorious Title IV grant that previously funded summer camps and after-school programs, reducing federal revenue by about $175,000. “Any programs that were funded by [the meritorious grant] are being cut,” Superintendent Pollard said.

A member of the public, Vanessa Smith of Exeter, questioned the Act 1 index number after comparing online PDE guidance; she asked which index applies to this district. Malone and administration responded that Act 1 application is district-specific and depends on the rebalancing calculations the state form requires.

The board’s motion to adopt the finance report and to authorize the board secretary to advertise the post-final budget notice required by law was made, seconded and approved on a roll-call vote. The advertised proposed final will return to the board for a binding final vote after June close-out reporting and any adjustments tied to state budget action. Administration said updated projections will be presented at the June meeting to set a final millage and adopt the binding budget.

Administration noted that the advertised proposal includes no new debt service and assumes health-care and retirement increases; the board and public were told detailed line-item adjustments will be available at the June meeting. The board asked administration to explore communications with county and state representatives about the rebalancing formula and any legislative relief available.