Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hopewell Area School District adopts preliminary $49.7 million 2026–27 budget
Summary
The Hopewell Area School District board voted to adopt a preliminary 2026–27 general fund budget projecting $49,692,755 in revenues and $49,747,197 in appropriations; the plan increases tax capacity under the Act 1 index and highlights rising personnel costs and a $7.89 million fund balance to help fund construction projects.
The Hopewell Area School District board on May 5 adopted a preliminary 2026–27 general fund budget that projects $49,692,755 in revenues and $49,747,197 in appropriations. The adoption followed a finance committee recommendation and a roll-call vote in which listed board members voted in favor and the motion carried.
Budget presenter Deborah Angelman said the district will use the Act 1 adjusted index of 4.6% for 2026–27, noting that the preliminary budget would be posted for public review on Monday, May 11, and remain available for more than 20 days before the board's final vote on June 16. "The deadline to adopt the preliminary budget is May 31st," Angelman said during her presentation.
Angelman cited a $23 million decline in assessed value over the past two years following countywide reassessment and appeals, which has limited revenue growth. She told the board the projected tax-index increase would generate about $1 million in revenue but that the district expects only a modest net revenue gain (roughly $182,000) because of timing changes in prior-year grants and other items.
On the expense side, Angelman said salaries and benefits will rise by about $2 million due to contractual increases and higher health-insurance premiums (estimated at 13%), and that building-improvement spending is being reallocated as the district plans a new K–6 building and high-school renovations. The district reported a fund balance of approximately $7.89 million to support borrowing and capital costs.
The board's action puts the district on the schedule Angelman outlined: preliminary budget posted May 11, public review for at least 20 days, and final budget consideration on June 16. The board did not amend the presentation numbers during the May 5 vote.
