Unionville-Chadds Ford board approves $105.8 million budget, sets twin-county tax rates; vote 8–1
June 01, 2024 | Unionville-Chadds Ford SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Unionville-Chadds Ford School District board approved its 2024–25 general fund budget and tax levy on Monday, voting 8–1 to adopt total appropriations of $105,838,802 and set millage rates at 32.61 in Chester County and 18.57 in Delaware County.
Board member Mr. Schartz moved the budget and acknowledged the work of the business office while explaining his own concerns. "I think the total expenditure level is the appropriate level to fund the education that our kids deserve," he said, but added that the tax impact on some community members was "just too much for me to bear," signaling his planned 'no' vote at the start of the discussion.
Other directors defended the budget as fiscally responsible and necessary to fund priorities, including the planned full-day kindergarten rollout and continued student supports. Several members and the administration noted that multi-county tax disparities are driven by state law and local reassessment timing; the board reported ongoing lobbying for legislative relief and cited Senate Bill 1239 as pending multi-county tax legislation in the state senate.
The board also approved the homestead and farmstead real-estate value exclusions (maximum exclusions of $10,599 in Chester County and $18,613 in Delaware County) and set school lunch prices for 2024–25 at $3.10 for elementary and $3.35 for middle school. Both items passed with unanimous voice votes.
Vote tallies recorded in the meeting: budget adoption passed 8–1; homestead/farmstead exclusions passed 9–0; lunch-price increases passed 9–0. Board members urged residents to contact state legislators to support proposed legislation intended to address cross-county tax inequities.
Board member Mr. Schartz moved the budget and acknowledged the work of the business office while explaining his own concerns. "I think the total expenditure level is the appropriate level to fund the education that our kids deserve," he said, but added that the tax impact on some community members was "just too much for me to bear," signaling his planned 'no' vote at the start of the discussion.
Other directors defended the budget as fiscally responsible and necessary to fund priorities, including the planned full-day kindergarten rollout and continued student supports. Several members and the administration noted that multi-county tax disparities are driven by state law and local reassessment timing; the board reported ongoing lobbying for legislative relief and cited Senate Bill 1239 as pending multi-county tax legislation in the state senate.
The board also approved the homestead and farmstead real-estate value exclusions (maximum exclusions of $10,599 in Chester County and $18,613 in Delaware County) and set school lunch prices for 2024–25 at $3.10 for elementary and $3.35 for middle school. Both items passed with unanimous voice votes.
Vote tallies recorded in the meeting: budget adoption passed 8–1; homestead/farmstead exclusions passed 9–0; lunch-price increases passed 9–0. Board members urged residents to contact state legislators to support proposed legislation intended to address cross-county tax inequities.
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