Board adopts 2025–26 final budget after debate over census-based funding formula
August 24, 2025 | Morrisville Borough SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Morrisville Borough School District board voted to approve and adopt the proposed 2025–26 final budget and authorized public inspection and advertisement of the final budget notice as presented.
The motion to adopt the budget was moved by the presiding officer and seconded; the chair announced the motion carried by a reported tally of 7 yes and 2 no. The finance presenter reported the district had budgeted $26,000,113 (including cafeteria revenue) and had received $22,437,005.71 year to date, leaving an approximate shortfall of $3.6 million.
The approval came after an extended exchange in which the chair described how the state basic education funding formula relies on U.S. Census-derived household and income data for 2021–23. "Our funding formula is based off of the years 2021, '22, and '23," the chair said, adding that borough household counts and median-income estimates can swing significantly within the survey margin of error and that those swings can materially change state aid allocations.
Finance staff detailed expense pressures, saying special education year-to-date expenses total about $2,700,000 with encumbrances of $1,000,001.83, and noted timing effects from county intermediate unit bills and June stipend accruals that will adjust some numbers later in the fiscal year. The finance presenter also reported a current collection rate of roughly 93% against a budgeted 95%.
A board member urged residents to contact state representatives about charter school funding and the state formula, saying local advocacy is required to change allocations that are set at the state level. "If this is an issue, contact your state representatives," the board member said.
The chair announced the official motion result: "Motion carries 7–2." The transcript excerpts do not provide a clear, unambiguous per-member roll-call record tied to speaker labels; the board's announced tally is recorded in the meeting minutes as the final outcome.
Next steps: the district will place the final budget on public inspection and advertise the final budget notice as authorized by the board. The board then moved on to other agenda items.
The motion to adopt the budget was moved by the presiding officer and seconded; the chair announced the motion carried by a reported tally of 7 yes and 2 no. The finance presenter reported the district had budgeted $26,000,113 (including cafeteria revenue) and had received $22,437,005.71 year to date, leaving an approximate shortfall of $3.6 million.
The approval came after an extended exchange in which the chair described how the state basic education funding formula relies on U.S. Census-derived household and income data for 2021–23. "Our funding formula is based off of the years 2021, '22, and '23," the chair said, adding that borough household counts and median-income estimates can swing significantly within the survey margin of error and that those swings can materially change state aid allocations.
Finance staff detailed expense pressures, saying special education year-to-date expenses total about $2,700,000 with encumbrances of $1,000,001.83, and noted timing effects from county intermediate unit bills and June stipend accruals that will adjust some numbers later in the fiscal year. The finance presenter also reported a current collection rate of roughly 93% against a budgeted 95%.
A board member urged residents to contact state representatives about charter school funding and the state formula, saying local advocacy is required to change allocations that are set at the state level. "If this is an issue, contact your state representatives," the board member said.
The chair announced the official motion result: "Motion carries 7–2." The transcript excerpts do not provide a clear, unambiguous per-member roll-call record tied to speaker labels; the board's announced tally is recorded in the meeting minutes as the final outcome.
Next steps: the district will place the final budget on public inspection and advertise the final budget notice as authorized by the board. The board then moved on to other agenda items.
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