Upper St. Clair proposes 3% tax increase to balance 2026–27 budget; board sets final adoption for June 8

District finance staff presented the proposed final budget for the 2026–27 school year and recommended a 3% real‑estate tax increase to cover external cost pressures the administration said were largely responsible for the shortfall.

"The recommendation…would be a 3% tax increase," the district presenter said, citing three primary external drivers: commercial assessment refunds tied to the common‑level ratio (estimated $850,000–$1,000,000 annually), an estimated nearly $1 million increase in health‑care costs, and higher electricity costs together creating roughly $2.155 million in budget pressure.

Presenters emphasized that salaries and benefits represent about 72% of the budget, debt service roughly 10%, and that the administration is not proposing cuts to programming. They said the district plans to use assigned fund balance for one‑time expenditures and to pursue operational efficiencies; staff noted three positions would be removed through attrition without eliminating programming.

At the meeting the board voted to approve the proposed final budget for public inspection and set a public meeting for final adoption on June 8, 2026 at 7 p.m.; the motion directed the secretary to make copies of the proposed budget available for public inspection in accordance with school code requirements.

Administrators said the proposed 3% increase would yield approximately $2.162 million in revenue; they reiterated the district’s preference to avoid tax increases where possible but argued the cited external factors make the modest increase necessary to maintain services. The budget remains subject to change before final adoption.