Board members attributed the hike to inflation.
The Souderton Area School Board has approved the district’s 2024-2025 budget with a maximum property tax increase for the second consecutive year.
The balanced budget, totaling $153,550,804, includes a 5.3% property tax increase, the maximum allowable by state law. The increase will amount to an extra $275 per year for the average homeowner with an assessed property value of $158,295.
Board members attributed the hike to inflation, soaring special education costs, charter school tuition payments and insufficient state funding.
“This is well over the average we’ve had for the last ten years, which is 1.49%,” said board vice president Stephen Nelson on June 26. “Our philosophy over the last few years is that we feel you need to keep your money in your pocket until it is needed, and it’s needed now.”
High school program of studies changes
The board approved several changes to the high school program of studies, including an opportunity for AP Physics students to gain college credit at the University of Pittsburgh, a mentorship component of the finance and investing class to enable students to learn beyond the classroom and a revised mathematics course sequence for the 2025-2026 school year, with students completing geometry before Algebra 2.
The board also took time to recognize elementary students Christian Houser, Lillian Moelius, Piper Eschenbach, Ezekial Gehret, Megan Kolesar and Maxwell Scherffel for their participation and achievement in the Montgomery County Intermediate Unit Math Challenge 24 competition.
The board approved the appointment of Elisa Ball as board treasurer for the 2024-2025 school year.
The next Souderton Area School Board meeting is on August 14 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit soudertonsd.org.
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