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Wyomissing Area SD proposes 3.5% tax increase; final budget shows $48.20M revenue, $50.42M expenses and $2.22M deficit
Summary
Budget presenter outlined a proposed 3.5% millage increase (1.238 mills) for 2026–27, with projected revenues of $48,196,654, expenditures of $50,418,730 and a resulting $2,222,076 deficit that would be covered from unassigned fund balance; long-term forecasts show structural pressure if changes aren’t made.
Budget presenter Mr. Ber delivered the district’s probable final budget for 2026–27 and recommended a 3.5% tax increase (1.238 mills) — the first time the district would exceed the Act 1 index in 12 years. "We are recommending and what's in the budget is a 3.5% increase or 1.238 increase in the mills for the district," he said.
Mr. Ber laid out the key numbers: proposed final revenues of $48,196,654 and expenditures of $50,418,730, leaving a projected deficit of $2,222,076. He said local revenue makes up about 77% of the district’s budget, of which approximately 80% is property taxes, and that salaries and benefits account for about 70% of expenditures. He noted the district plans to use fund balance to cover the shortfall in the near term and to present more detailed options during the coming year to address structural deficits.
Board members pressed for details about contingency and alternatives. Mr. Ber said the district did not include a contingency line in the original project budget but that even with current change orders the project remains under roughly 5% of total cost. He said the administration is preparing a multi-year forecast showing that without further action projected deficits increase in later years and that staff will present proposals to reduce costs or identify efficiencies for future budgets.
The board moved to approve and ratify finance items on the agenda (items 1–17), which included the final budget as item 13; a roll call vote recorded unanimous affirmative votes from members present and the motion passed.
