WILSON, Pa. — Residents in Wilson Area School District will have to dig a little deeper to pay their taxes during the coming school year.
The board of education on Monday night unanimously approved its proposed final budget for 2025-26.
Included in the $49,033,273 budget is a 3.5% tax increase.
The new budget includes a real estate millage of 62.583.
Under it, the owner of a home with an average tax assessment for the district would pay monthly tax increases of:
| Williams Township | $13.24 |
| Glendon | $10.26 |
| Wilson Borough | $8.45 |
| West Easton | $7.66 |
The initial proposed tax hike of 3.25% was amended and increased to 3.5% on Monday.
Some board members voiced concern that the former figure may not be enough to meet unexpected financial obligations of the district, as well as teacher salaries and pensions and capital improvement projects at many of the older school buildings.
'Biggest part of our budget'
“There are a number of reasons for the increase,” board President Judith Herbstreith said. “Personnel costs and capital expenditures are the biggest part of our budget.
“Capital expenditures are planned. As our buildings start getting older, you’ve got HVAC replacements and other things. I think all the school districts are starting to deal with this.”
“There are a number of reasons for the increase. Personnel costs and capital expenditures are the biggest part of our budget."Judith Herbstreith, Wilson Area School Board president
Herbstreith said district Superintendent Harrison Bailey III toured all of Wilson Area's school district buildings to review all of the systems and when they’re due to be replaced — whether in the short term, four years from now and so on.
“Then he put a spreadsheet together of all the projects,” Herbstreith said.
“You heard him mention that [Williams Township Elementary School] needs a new roof that will cost $1 million.”
The district's revenue sources include 67% from local sources, 31% from the state and 2% from federal sources.
Board member Johnathan Jones said that while he understands there are senior citizens in the community who are on fixed incomes, not increasing the tax figure from 3.25% “may put people in a worse position” down the road.
“How can we pay the teachers 3.25% every year if we don’t raise taxes?” Jones asked during the meeting.
“I’m concerned 3.25% is not going to be enough. I feel like we’d still be chasing our tails and not get ahead.”
New courses of study
The board also approved the addition of the following courses of study:
- Japanese I
- Music in Media
- Real World Reading and Writing
- Real World Math
- Home repair
- Material processing
Real World Reading and Writing and Real World Math courses typically focus on connecting academic skills to practical applications in everyday life.
The courses aim to help students understand how reading, writing and math are used in various contexts, such as navigating everyday situations, understanding information and making decisions.
