Lewisburg Area SD budget update shows $86,000 shortfall; board weighs tax scenarios and three proposed staff additions

District business staff presented the Lewisburg Area School District’s budget update on April 10 and outlined scenarios for property-tax changes tied to capital transfers and three recommended new staff positions.

The presenter reported preliminary fiscal 2025 figures: revenues of $44,000,006.95 and expenses that initially left a projected deficit of about $211,000. Subsequent updates to revenues and expenses — including a $50,000 billing adjustment, a $51,000 increase in basic education funding from the state, an added $103,007.34 for a block grant, and higher costs for insurance and utilities — reduced the shortfall. The presenter said a projected 12% market-driven increase in general-liability insurance will add about $35,000, and electricity capacity-charge changes will add about $45,000. After those updates the presenter said, “that brings our new deficit to $86,001.57.”

The presenter reviewed four tax-scenario options that vary the general-fund transfer to capital projects (the item described in the presentation as a transfer out of the general fund to a capital account). Using three proposed additional staff and a $500,000 capital transfer, the presenter said the tax increase would be 3.4%. Reducing the capital transfer to $400,000 would lower the increase to 2.95%; $300,000 would yield 2.45%; and $200,000 would yield about 1.97%. The presenter said the board could balance the budget at a 3% tax increase by transferring $415,000 instead of $500,000.

The three positions the administration presented as additions were described in the meeting as: an additional special-education teacher, a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA), and a position to backfill middle-school science (noted as a backfill associated with the principal’s teaching assignment). The presenter and trustees discussed uncertainty factors that could affect final figures, including final state basic-education funding and property-assessment changes, and noted a potential longer-term budget impact from proposed cyber-charter reforms.

Board members discussed preferred thresholds and asked staff to prepare the scenarios for the May 8 meeting, where trustees will review the proposed budget and may vote on the preliminary budget; the presenter noted a final budget vote is scheduled for June 12. No formal budget vote occurred at the April 10 meeting.