Tax Rise Plan Aims to Patch School Budget Gap
The Tyrone Area School District is evaluating a 4.9 % increase in the state Act 1 Index to bridge a projected $1.2 million deficit for the 2026‑27 school year. The adjustment would inject roughly $491,000 into the budget and reduce the shortfall to about $740,000.
State lawmakers have added modest amounts for basic and special education over the past five years. In Governor Josh Shapiro’s budget, the district would see a $30,000 bump in core schooling funds and an $8,616 increase for special education—small increases compared to the $50 million statewide boost.
Financial Snapshot
- Current revenue: $31.2 million
- Projected expenses: $31.9 million
- General fund balance:
- Today: $9.4 million
- Mid‑2027: ~$8.7 million
Faith Swanson, the district’s chief administrator, warned that while the tax hike will help now, additional cuts are expected in the coming months.
Impact by County
| County | Current Millage | Proposed Millage | Typical Home ($100,000) | Homestead/Farmstead Exempt |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blair | 8.18 | 8.27 | $710 | $432 |
| Centre | 31.16 | 31.83 | $544 | $266 |
| Huntingdon | 54.39 | 62.15 | $782 | $504 |
Huntingdon County already meets the Act 1 target; the hike is higher to support ongoing needs.
Timeline
- Preliminary budget approval: Next Tuesday
- Public notice period: 10 days
- Final 2026‑27 general fund budget adoption: By June 9 (before the state deadline of June 30)
Swanson anticipates that the statewide budget will pass in time, preventing a prolonged stalemate similar to last year.
