A 0.5 mill tax increase was included in the 2026-27 proposed budget unveiled by the South Williamsport Area School District at its monthly meeting Monday.

The 2.58% increase would bring the millage rate to 19.85, bringing in an additional $182,000 in real estate tax revenue, according to a budget presentation given by Business Manager Jamie Mowrey.

Total expenditures are projected to reach $23,857,501, with revenue totaling approximately $23,988,163, resulting in a deficit of roughly $130,662, however, $115,023 from district’s fund balance will be used to cover some technology needs, effectively lowering the deficit to $15,639, Mowrey said.

Salaries and benefits make up the bulk of expenditures for the 2026-27 school year, totaling 67% of the budget.

Of the two, benefits saw the biggest increase, 2.81%, due to a large amount of staff and faculty retirements, with many of the retirees choosing to join the district’s health insurance plan, raising that cost by 9.9%, or $217,306.

Those retirements, however, will see a district savings of $558,849, as new hirers are placed at the bottom of the salary schedule. The district also saw an overall reduction of two positions, Mowrey said.

In terms of revenue, the district expects to receive increases of 0.35% or $25,477 in basic education, 2.87% or $31,394 in special education and 38.2% or $369,151 in Ready to Learn (RTL) block grants, based on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed state budget, though Mowrey stressed that the budget is subject to change, and is often passed late.

In 2025, the state budget was signed into law 135 days past its deadline of June 30.

Due to those factors, the district allocation of the RTL included in the proposed budget is one-third of the total amount projected should Shapiro’s budget pass unchanged, which would see the district receive an additional $426,022.

Other current unknowns include allocation of federal funding and the results of ongoing teacher and Act 93 negotiations.

The budget will go through two more votes before becoming finalized by the board at its June 22 meeting.

In other financial matters, the board approved an amendment to the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act (GESA) Agreement with Reynolds Energy Services Inc., d/b/a SitelogIQ Energy Services Inc. for electrical and emergency generator systems, HVAC systems and select architectural upgrades at the Junior/Senior High School at a cost not to exceed $700,000; a three year service agreement with BLaST IU for the district’s Internet connectivity, at a post-ERate cost of $610.56 per month; and the West Branch Drug & Alcohol Abuse Commission Pilot Program, which will see the addition of a behavioral health liaison to support students K-12, with funds provided through the state Opioid Settlement Fund.

In staffing, the board approved Kalyn Erb, as a school counselor; Rhandie Jessell, as a kindergarten teacher; Lily Eiswerth, as a third grade teacher; Claudia Green, as a kindergarten teacher; Katherine Loughran, as a third grade teacher; Noah Fry, as an elementary school music teacher, all at Central Elementary School, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, with salaries to be updated upon approval of a new South Williamsport Area Education Association Agreement; Scott White, as a Junior/Senior High School science teacher, beginning with the 2026-27 school year, with a salary to be updated upon approval of a new South Williamsport Area Education Association Agreement; the reassignment Ashley Zielewicz, from grades 4-8 to special education pre-K to 12; Jane House as head girls junior high soccer coach, at a stipend of $2,740; and Marc Lovecchio as assistant girls junior high soccer coach, at a stipend of $2,346; and acknowledged the resignations of Kimberly Pelt, as general support assistant/lunch monitor; and Luke Laubach, from his instructional professional position, both from Central Elementary School, effective March 12, 2026 and June 5, 2026, respectively.

The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026.