Finance committee approves $5.25M draw from school maintenance reserve to boost education appropriation

The finance committee voted to amend the education department's FY2026-27 appropriation, increasing the education line from $64.3 million to $65.75 million and directing $5.25 million to come from the School District Facilities Maintenance Reserve (SDFMR).

Assemblymember Matthew Kress, who moved the amendment, said the request honors the school district's local ask and structures the funding as roughly a 50/50 split between the SDFMR and the general fund so the district can meet its requested level of local contribution. "This will allow us to meet the request from the school district and support them to the level that they have asked for," Kress said.

School district representative Mr. Burgess told the committee the number meets the district's minimum local contribution but that the district would prefer a smaller draw from the reserve (about $3 million); members clarified the borough code prevents spending reserve dollars on projects without a school-board resolution, and emergency spending could still occur if the board later acts. After questions and a roll-call vote the amendment passed and the education department budget was approved as amended.

The amendment text and the roll-call votes were placed on the record; the committee noted this approach preserves options for future capital spending if the school board later forwards project lists or resolutions.