School Board approves preliminary budget for 2025-26
Lower Dauphin’s School Board approved the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year at its Monday, May 5, meeting. The proposed $82,920,000 spending plan, adopted with an 7-0 vote, will have a shortfall in revenue of nearly $5,688,943 before a tax increase.
If all of the projected shortfall is covered using the district’s reserves, the district will be left with $5.6 million in its fund reserves. Superintendent Robert Gildea talked about the district’s habit of spending down its reserves by budgeting with a known deficit. With a projected deficit of $1,509,466 for the 2024-25 school year added to the previous three years, the district will have spent $6,422,438 from its reserves since 2020-2021. That type of budgeting is not sustainable over the long-term, he said.
Additionally, he pointed out, since the 2007-08 school year the district has only increased taxes three times, despite the cost of living continuing to increase. Dr. Gildea's presentation listed increased revenues for 2024-25 of $2,409,197 which includes real estate transfer taxes of $1,625,000. He also talked about the 2025-26 projected expenditure increases which totals $3,417,617 and includes salaries of $891,352, charter school tuition of $850,000.
Additionally, Dr. Gildea said the proposed budget includes a tax increase of 4.84% which will increase the millage rate from $20.20 to $21.16 generating $1,789,980in revenue. The remaining budget short fall of $3,898,963 will be budgeted from reserves.
The board of school directors will meet again Monday, May 19, at 7 p.m. at Lower Dauphin Middle School and is expected to adopt a final budget at its meeting Monday, June 9, at 7 p.m. at the District Administrative Center.