Board approves $56M final budget, rejects 0% tax amendment and passes homestead/farmstead and tax-rebate resolutions

The Saucon Valley School Board approved its final 2026–27 budget at the July 14 business meeting, following a contested amendment that sought to hold the tax rate at 0% instead of the proposed 1% increase.

Finance staff reported the preliminary budget had $57 million in total expenditures; the final budget presented at the meeting reduced that to about $56 million by delaying part of a stadium project. A board member moved to amend the final budget to adopt a 0% tax increase; the amendment would have required drawing $1,938,924 from the district’s fund balance and maintaining the current millage at 55.2055.

Board members debating the amendment framed the choice as one of fiscal prudence versus short-term taxpayer relief. Supporters of the amendment argued the numerical change was small and the district could absorb the fund-balance drawdown; opponents said the district runs a structural deficit and the 1% increase is intended as a conservative, multi-year correction. One board member noted that taking from fund balance now would be less than previous proposals because of updated stadium numbers.

On roll call the amendment to set a 0% increase failed. The board then approved the final budget as presented.

Separately, the board approved the Homestead/Farmstead exclusion resolution, which the board said is a required distribution method for state gambling-derived revenue and is allocated equally to eligible properties. The board also approved a tax-rebate resolution after a brief debate about fairness: one member argued the program’s age and homeowner eligibility criteria can produce uneven results for low-income renters and younger households.

The meeting also approved routine personnel and facilities items and set future business meetings for July 14 and July 28, 2026.