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Easton Area board approves 2026–27 budget amid debate over new high school levy
Summary
After extended public comment and internal debate over ESSER carryovers and a 1.5% levy for a new high school, the board adopted the proposed final 2026–27 budget in a roll-call vote; trustees asked staff for a clearer breakdown of one-time grants and carryover expenses.
The Easton Area School District board voted to adopt the proposed final budget for 2026–27 after a contentious discussion that included public comments calling the budget large and raising concerns about tax burdens for seniors.
During public comment Charles Diefenderfer (Palmer Township) asked detailed questions about benefit-to-salary ratios in several line items and urged the district to identify possible cuts. "With 2 over $200,000,000 in a budget, there's gotta be some places that can be reduced," Diefenderfer said. Veil Shercott (Forks Township) told the board that rising property and earned-income taxes were making it hard for older residents to afford to stay in their homes: "You're forcing us elderly right out of our homes."
Board members discussed the budget in depth. Trustee Mike Simonetta pressed administrators about carryovers from federal ESSER-funded positions and one-time expenditures: "How much of that $10,000,000 that's on salaries ... how much of that is still in the budget that we're hitting taxpayers for?" CFO Jack Trent and other staff said they would provide a more detailed projection and reconciliation in follow-up materials. Trustees emphasized that the proposed increase is two parts: a 2% operating increase and a 1.5% levy to fund the new high school project.
A roll-call vote was recorded and carried the motion. The transcript records affirmative votes from trustees including Davis, Teigen, Iago, Whitman, Sando Dennis and Hess; trustees Greenfield, Simonetta and Snyder recorded "no" votes during the roll call. After the vote the board continued with other agenda items, and several trustees asked for clearer breakout language (including not-to-exceed amounts) on future contract motions and renewals.
Why this matters: the budget sets tax and spending levels for the district and funds major capital work, including the new high school project referenced in the levy. Trustees asked for itemized follow-up on ESSER-funded salaries and professional services that were previously highlighted in the audit discussion so the board and public can see what remains funded by one-time federal resources.
Next steps: administration will supply updated revenue projections, a reconciliation of ESSER carryovers and a list of consultant/attorney costs tied to recent settlements and audit preparation. The budget adoption will feed into final tax-rate calculations and further capital planning for the new high school project.
