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Board presented with balanced 2026–27 budget proposal and 3.4% tax increase to consider June 15
Summary
District staff recommended a balanced 2026–27 final budget with a proposed 3.4% real-estate tax increase (36.16 mills) and outlined spending reductions, increased revenues and continuation of rebate programs; the board will vote on the final budget at its June 15 legislative meeting.
Bill Stone, the district’s director of business affairs, presented the finance committee’s final 2026–27 budget recommendation at the June 1 work session and explained how the district moved from a projected pre-tax deficit to a balanced plan.
Stone said the district faced a near $9 million deficit before potential tax increases when the detailed budget was first presented in mid-April. Staff revised revenue estimates upward by about $800,000, reduced expenditures by roughly $5 million and now propose a balanced budget supported by a recommended real-estate tax increase of 3.4%, resulting in a proposed millage rate of 36.16.
Stone offered examples of taxpayer impact at three assessed-value points: he said a property assessed near the district median would see roughly a $15 per month increase, with $12 per month at the 25th percentile and about $22 per month at the 75th percentile. He emphasized the district’s long-standing practice of recommending tax increases at or below Pennsylvania’s Act 1 index and noted the district has not sought Act 1 exceptions.
The June 15 legislative action meeting will include multiple related agenda items required to implement the budget: final adoption of the budget, millage-setting, certification of the homestead/farmstead credit (Stone said the district’s recommended credit amount is $488.70 per eligible homestead or farmstead), tax-payment deadlines (adjusted for calendar dates), and continuation of two local rebate programs: a senior/farmstead piggyback rebate at 50% of the state rebate and an emergency-services volunteer rebate for qualifying local volunteers.
Stone also advised trustees that the budget presentation will include committed fund-balance categories required by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and recommended continued use of established purchasing cooperatives. He reported an expected increase of about $62,000 in insurance premiums overall for the next year but said cyber-liability premium is anticipated to decrease slightly due to proactive cybersecurity work.
Board members had the opportunity to ask clarifying questions; Stone said he would present the full final budget and required adoption motions at the June 15 meeting.
No final budget vote was taken at the work session; the board will consider and is expected to vote on the final budget and related items at the June 15 legislative action meeting.
