Upper Perkiomen board moves to advertise proposed 2024–25 budget with 5% millage proposal

The Upper Perkiomen School District board voted May 9 to authorize official advertisement and public inspection of the proposed 2024–25 budget and to continue discussion before final adoption. The board approved a 5% proposed millage rate increase and said the change would result in a 7.34% tax increase as presented at the meeting.

Finance Director Mr Bishop told the board the budget process followed Act 1 timelines and school code requirements and noted the district has worked the budget line by line since November. He said district revenues are expected to increase in local and state lines, ESSER federal funds will drop to zero after the current year, and the district is projecting higher salary and benefit costs, including an 18% health‑insurance renewal estimate.

Mr Bishop outlined major expenditure categories — regular instruction, special education, building operations and debt service — and said salaries and benefits remain the largest single costs. He said the finance committee recommended a 5% millage increase as a conservative step to preserve a cushion before final adoption and that further adjustments remain possible before the June final vote.

Board members moved the budget for public advertisement and inspection, with the motion carried by voice vote. The amount shown in the motion in the transcript was transcribed as "8,981 49"; the transcript did not provide a clear, unambiguous total dollar figure for the proposed final budget. The board authorized the budget documents to be available for public review at the Edge Center and on the district website until June 20, 2024, and scheduled further Finance Committee review ahead of a final vote.

The motion and ensuing discussion also highlighted several open budget items that the board said remain under consideration, including use of consortium funds to smooth health‑insurance costs and whether to lock in diesel fuel pricing. Mr Bishop said district leaders have been moving certain expenditures between grant and operating lines to preserve clarity in reported salary and service spending.

Next steps: the board extended the public‑inspection period through June 20, and the finance committee will meet in advance of the final board action to consider adjustments and public feedback.