The Central Bucks school board has approved a 5.95 percent tax increase, resulting in average households paying $329 more annually, writes Ed Doyle for TAPinto Doylestown.
This is in addition to last year’s 5.3 percent increase.
Several factors contributed to rising expenses, including staffing costs and maintenance for aging buildings.
Staff expenses are the largest item in the school district’s budget. Approximately $350 million of next year’s $433 million total is allocated for salaries and employee benefits, roughly 80 percent. Now, with contract negotiations approaching, personnel costs are expected to rise further.
While the district is not considering layoffs, other ways to trim personnel costs are being explored.
“The only way to cut major expenses is to look at benefits,” said Tara Houser, the district’s former COO, who recently moved to another school district.
Another factor in the tax increase is the school district’s “realignment” plan. This will bring full-day kindergarten to all elementary schools for the 2026-2027 school year and move sixth graders to middle school and ninth graders to high school.
To create room for new student populations, the district will spend $45 million on renovating and reconfiguring its school buildings.
Learn more about what’s driving the Central Bucks school tax hike and how it could impact families in TAPinto Doylestown.
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