Credit: Souderton Area School District
Preliminary budget numbers show $4 million deficit
The preliminary 2025-26 budget in the Souderton Area School District includes a potential 4 percent tax hike, as approved at the Thursday, April 24 school board meeting.
The budget shows nearly $159 million in revenue and nearly $163 million in expenditures, yielding a $4 million deficit. The district is working on additional funding changes to ensure a balanced budget with the lowest possible tax hike, said Director of Business Affairs Michael Taylor. Four percent is the maximum allowed under state Act 1 guidelines.
The district has implemented maximum property tax increases for the past two years. The board has attributed the hikes to soaring special education costs, charter school tuition and insufficient state funding.
The budget document will be posted on the district website within one to two weeks, said Taylor. Print copies will also be available at the district office.
“It’s the mechanism for the public to inspect the district revenues and expenditures for the upcoming year,” said Taylor, of the preliminary budget.
During the meeting, some community members raised concerns about the district’s $2 million in federal funding following President Donald Trump’s executive order to abolish the Department of Education. (The order requires Congressional approval). The funds primarily support programs for at-risk and special needs students.
In response, board members committed to finding the funding in the worst-case scenario, though Superintendent Frank Gallagher dismissed concerns of “a major cut.” He added that federal funding for the next school year is already secured.
“If $2 million is cut, then we will find it,” said board president Stephen Nelson. “We will not let any of the programs go down."
The final budget will be presented on June 11, with adoption scheduled for June 19.
Student recognitions
The board recognized the High School Boys Wrestling team for winning the Suburban One Colonial Division Championship and the High School Girls Wrestling team for winning the 2025 Suburban One League Championship, the PIAA District One Championship and the PIAA Southeast Regional Championship.
The board recognized the Arrowhead school newspaper for earning an All-American rating from the National Scholastic Press Association and winning the 2025 All-State Award from the Pennsylvania School Press Association.
The board additionally recognized S.A.V.E. students Ari Swindell, Cait Haigh and Sophia DuBois and their advisor, Kimberly Wilson. The all-volunteer club promotes environmental preservation through a series of regular events and programs.
The next SASD school board meeting is on May 22 at 7 p.m. For more information, visit soudertonsd.org
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