Board reviews fund balance and tax‑impact estimates as it advances preliminary budget items

At the May 18 meeting the Jersey Shore Area School District board heard a finance update from the district treasurer and approved several consent finance items while scheduling separate roll‑call votes for preliminary budget components.

Mr. Anders told board members the projected unassigned fund balance at the end of 2026–27 is $4,044,345, representing 7.94% of budgeted expenditures; he said the total fund balance (including funds committed for health insurance) is approximately $7.67 million. When asked to translate tax‑rate changes into household impact, Mr. Anders provided figures per $100,000 of assessed value: a 1.2% increase would translate to roughly $52.70 in Clinton County and about $13.46 in Lycoming County and would generate just over $200,000 in additional revenue, leaving a budget gap of roughly $1 million under the proposed figures.

The board approved assorted finance items (letters B, D, E and F) by voice vote and then proceeded with separate roll‑call votes for other items. During the roll calls the clerk read individual yes/no votes for items A and C and for a grouped set (G, H and I); the meeting record includes the roll‑call responses as read aloud.

Board members asked for more granular explanations of line‑item percentage increases that appear on supporting documents to understand absolute dollar impacts before finalizing budget decisions. The board will continue preliminary budget discussions and follow up on items the treasurer and administrators were asked to clarify.