Upper Darby committee reviews 2026–27 budget update, flags $10.6M shortfall and possible 3.95% tax increase

The Upper Darby School District Finance & Operations Committee on an evening meeting received an informational presentation on the proposed 2026–27 budget that showed revenues of about $280.2 million and expenditures of about $290.8 million, leaving a projected shortfall of roughly $10.6 million. Mister Rogers, who led the presentation, said a 3.95% proposed tax increase would add approximately $4.5 million and reduce the planned use of the district’s fund balance to about $6.1 million.

Why it matters: the district must adopt a final budget no later than June 30, 2026, and administrators said they will post a notice of intent to adopt by June 6 and present the final budget for board action at the June 16 committee and voting meeting. The committee’s update outlined grant and program changes that could materially affect the final numbers, including recently released federal Title I and Title II allocations and the Ready to Learn Block Grant.

Rogers walked the committee through the Act 1 timeline and historical tax indices, noting the 2026–27 base index is 3.5% with an adjusted index of 5.1% and that the board has opt-out authority up to that adjusted index. He described prior committee and board presentations (November, December, April) and stressed the district’s goal of keeping hiring flat: “We did not ask for any additional full time equivalents” in the proposed budget, he said.

Administrators listed capital and grant items included in the proposed budget: the Bus Stop Arm Camera program; DCED life-safety grant funds slated for generator replacements; a Solar for Schools project at Hillcrest and Stonehurst (including the federal solar investment tax credit); ongoing toilet-room and partial high-school window replacements; and interior door replacement at Gareford. Many projects are already under contract and scheduled for summer construction, Rogers said.

Grant updates: Rogers reported the district had received updated Title I and Title II allocations that look to be up by roughly $1.5 million combined relative to what had been budgeted. He cautioned that Title III and IV allocations had not yet been released and that the district will incorporate those figures into the final budget when available.

Fund balance and reserves: Rogers explained the district’s fund balance is a multi-category reserve and said the most recent audited position showed about $31.5 million. Of that, about $5.6 million had been committed in the current year to balance the budget, about $16.4 million was assigned for various future uses, and roughly $8.0 million was unassigned.

Staffing and redistricting: Rogers said staffing adjustments stem from the district’s redistricting plan tied to opening Clifton Heights Middle School and closing Charles Kelley Elementary School. He said the district plans to reassign existing staff rather than create new FTEs and that those reassignments are built into the proposed budget. “The staffing will be reassigned based on areas of need,” he said.

State budget timing and borrowing risk: board members asked whether delays in the Pennsylvania state budget would force the district to borrow. Rogers said district modeling shows the district could likely avoid borrowing if the state budget is finalized before December but that administrators have contingency plans and would provide regular public updates and, if necessary, discuss borrowing options publicly.

Public comment and family concerns: parent Megan Rubino urged clearer, published information about staffing reassignments, transportation routing, and how extracurricular programs (for example, music and winter sports) would be handled if Clifton Heights opened midyear rather than in August. District administration responded that multiple transportation plans and schedules (plan A and B) are in place, that staffing and program decisions were being worked through with building administrators and curriculum staff, and that the district will publish a one-page FAQ and hold a virtual Q&A session for families. Rogers said the district’s goal is to open in August but confirmed contingency planning is underway.

What’s next: administrators will post a notice of intent to adopt the final budget by June 6, present the final budget at the June 16 committee meeting, and ask the board to vote immediately thereafter. The presentation at the committee meeting was informational; the committee did not take formal action on the final budget at this meeting.