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LCTI presents balanced budgets; $1.3 million state subsidy boost eases member-district shares
Summary
Lehigh County Technical Institute leaders told Parkland board members that two balanced budgets (general fund and academic center) include a roughly $1.3 million increase in the state career-technical subsidy, five-year ADM averaging of 424 students and prioritized capital work including an accessible bathroom and secure vestibule.
Dr. Greenwalt of LCTI presented two balanced budgets for 2025-26 and told the Parkland School Board workshop that the state's changes to funding for career-technical centers produce about a $1.3 million increase in the current-technical-education subsidy for LCTI.
Why it matters: the additional state subsidy reduces the proportional share that member districts must fund. LCTI uses a five-year average ADM (average daily membership) of 424 to smooth enrollment swings; Parkland accounts for about 18.9% of LCTI's ADM for the general fund and roughly 31.6% of capital costs under the market-value-based debt-servicing calculation. Under the proposal shown to the Joint Operating Committee and superintendents, Parkland's general-fund share would be about $5.1 million under the current presentation.
Details: Dr. Greenwalt said LCTI reported 296 industry credentials awarded last year and emphasized work-based learning and internships as direct benefits to students. He noted LCTI's total debt is about $50 million with scheduled payments through 2041 and described priority capital projects for 2025-26: an expanded accessible bathroom for students using a lift and a conversion of a conference room/window to create a secure vestibule entrance. He also outlined five fund-balance categories and said the three operating fund balances total about $3.8 million and are available to respond to emergency capital needs such as chiller-plant or roof failures.
On staffing and grants, the presentation said federal Carl D. Perkins grant funds (about $1 million for LCTI) support equipment purchases, professional development and staffing for students with special needs. The academic center budget was presented separately: Parkland's proportional share of the academic-center ADM (58 students) is about 21.99%, and the district's academic-center cost was shown as roughly $524,525 with an estimated 6.38% increase for Parkland (~$31,000).
Board reaction and next steps: JOC members and the superintendents reviewed the budgets and voted to move them forward to participating boards for consideration; Dr. Greenwalt asked that each district put the item on its upcoming meeting agendas for final action. "We are hopeful that you will move forward this budget resolution," he said. The board may consider the budget for adoption at an upcoming business meeting.
Sources: presentation to the Parkland School Board workshop, Feb. 18, 2025 (Dr. Greenwalt).
