The South Williamsport School board passed a scaled back tax increase of .30 miles as part of its 2026-27 budget Monday night.

The tentative budget introduced in April included a .50 mil increase.

The increase will bring the district’s real estate tax to 19.65 mills.

In other financial matters, the board approved the 2026 Homestead/Farmstead Exclusion Resolution; the Capital Reserve Project Budget for 2026-27, not to exceed $190,000.00; a revised resolution to file a Commonwealth Financing Authority Public School Facility Improvement Grant Fund Grant Request with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development; the following institutions as depositories of school funds for the 2026-27 school year: Woodlands Bank, Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust (PLGIT) and Journey Bank; and the Technology Services Agreement with BLAST IU 17, effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027 for Data Center Hosting, at an annual cost of $17,600.

The board also approved agreements with BLaST IU17, including IDEA, for federal funding for special education programs and Special Education, covering services rendered to students enrolled in IU programs and/or receiving services through the Intermediate Unit, billed on an as needed basis; as well as a Memorandum of Understanding with the South Williamsport Borough Police Department, establishing procedures when certain incidents occur on school property, at any sponsored event and on school buses providing transportation to or from school/school-sponsored events, effective June 2026 through June 2028.

Following board approval, the Williamsport Sun-Gazette was designated as the newspaper of general circulation for the 2026-27 school year.

Policies approved by the board include Central Elementary school guidelines for implementation of district policy 918: Title I Parent and Family Policy, the Title I Home/School Compact, Memorandum of Understanding with STEP, Inc., Head Start, Parent Right-to-Know, School-Wide Program Information, and Equity Plan; Policy No. 619 for district audits and Policy No. 810 on transportation.

The next school board meeting will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 13.