Kennett board releases $104.1M preliminary budget; proposes 4.68% tax increase

The board voted to release the Kennett Consolidated School District’s $104,115,105 preliminary operating budget for 2024–25 and authorized public notice and comment. Finance chair said the preliminary proposal carries a 4.68% tax increase—below the Act 1 index of 5.3%—and estimated the average household impact at about $278 per year.

Administrators emphasized the preliminary budget does not include additional construction funding for New Garden or Greenwood Elementary Schools and does not add new positions; any new positions would be funded through attrition or reclassification. Major drivers of the proposed increase include salary and benefits (including retirement costs) and higher contracted professional services for special education; administration highlighted a projected increase in costs for services provided by the Chester County Intermediate Unit.

Trustees discussed revenue assumptions, state funding uncertainty and the district’s historical pattern of bringing final budgets below preliminary estimates. The board approved release of the preliminary budget and set a public comment period and availability of documents in the superintendent’s office.