With a 4.1% property tax hike, the East Penn School District Board of Directors approved a proposed budget.
The planned nearly $213.6 million budget for 2026–27 is still balanced. However, the district will be under long-term financial pressure as costs continue to rise faster than revenue.
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The budget proposes a tax rate of 22.735 mills and keeps the property tax rebate scheme going for people who qualify. Estimates from the district show that a rise to that level would add about $194 to the yearly property tax bill of the average home in the district, which is currently worth $216,367.
The budget that was given to become balanced in part by cutting the district's contribution to the capital reserve by $1.5 million. There would be a structural deficit and ongoing economic problems even if the budget was balanced. Early talks about the budget showed that there would be a shortfall of about $2.14 million for the 2026–27 school year.
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Officials found $622,000 in cuts that could be made, but they weren't included in Monday's spending plan. The amount was made up of $150,000 in departmental cuts and $222,000 in lost support staff.