Finance committee presents $123.6M draft budget and tax-increase scenarios; adoption set for June 25
May 23, 2026 | Southeast Delco SD, School Districts, Pennsylvania
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The Southeast Delco finance committee presented a draft 2026'27 budget to the Committee of the Whole on May 21 and outlined possible tax-increase scenarios ranging from 1.5% to 3%.
Mr. Butler, who presented the budget figures, said the draft totals $123,610,735 and the version on the district website currently assumes a 3% tax increase. "A 3% increase will provide $1,520,122 toward general fund expenditures for 26'27," he said, and provided home-owner impact examples listed by assessed value. Butler also provided alternative yields: a 2.5% increase would yield about $1,266,797, 2% would yield about $1,013,468, and 1.5% would yield about $790,078 when compared to the 3% scenario.
Butler acknowledged calculation errors on several packet pages and said he would correct and post updated figures on the district website and email the board. He noted that choosing a lower rate would require the district to identify expenditure reductions; for example, a 2.5% rate would require approximately $253,325 in cuts relative to the 3% scenario.
The finance committee also reviewed reallocating unspent 2025'26 funds to pay for time-sensitive projects such as the Academy Park High School weight-room renovation while moving less-urgent projects like the Academy Park tennis court to the 2026'27 capital plan. The committee discussed an RFP process for a new contracted cleaning service (walk-through scheduled for vendors) and recommended forwarding these items to the full board.
Board members asked about timelines and how the board should communicate their chosen rate to staff so budget documents can be prepared for the planned adoption meeting. Butler said adoption is scheduled for June 25 and that the administration will prepare budget versions for the different percentage options if the board provides direction in time.
No formal tax-rate vote was taken at the May 21 Committee of the Whole; the finance committee recommended the board consider options at upcoming meetings.
Mr. Butler, who presented the budget figures, said the draft totals $123,610,735 and the version on the district website currently assumes a 3% tax increase. "A 3% increase will provide $1,520,122 toward general fund expenditures for 26'27," he said, and provided home-owner impact examples listed by assessed value. Butler also provided alternative yields: a 2.5% increase would yield about $1,266,797, 2% would yield about $1,013,468, and 1.5% would yield about $790,078 when compared to the 3% scenario.
Butler acknowledged calculation errors on several packet pages and said he would correct and post updated figures on the district website and email the board. He noted that choosing a lower rate would require the district to identify expenditure reductions; for example, a 2.5% rate would require approximately $253,325 in cuts relative to the 3% scenario.
The finance committee also reviewed reallocating unspent 2025'26 funds to pay for time-sensitive projects such as the Academy Park High School weight-room renovation while moving less-urgent projects like the Academy Park tennis court to the 2026'27 capital plan. The committee discussed an RFP process for a new contracted cleaning service (walk-through scheduled for vendors) and recommended forwarding these items to the full board.
Board members asked about timelines and how the board should communicate their chosen rate to staff so budget documents can be prepared for the planned adoption meeting. Butler said adoption is scheduled for June 25 and that the administration will prepare budget versions for the different percentage options if the board provides direction in time.
No formal tax-rate vote was taken at the May 21 Committee of the Whole; the finance committee recommended the board consider options at upcoming meetings.
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