WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. – Whitehall-Coplay School District officials on Monday warned of growing financial pressure as they reviewed the district’s proposed 2026-27 budget.
At their finance committee meeting, the board of directors and district administrators discussed a proposed $110.7 million spending plan that would leave a gap of about $9.2 million before any use of fund balance or adjustments. Officials project a roughly $6 million shortfall after adjustments.
The plan includes a proposed 4.7% property tax increase, the maximum allowed under the state’s Act 1 index.
“I’m not one for alarm bells or anything like that, but it’s alarm bell time for our district,” board Treasurer George Williams said. “We’re in a situation where if we don’t start really looking not only at our expenses, at creative ways to generate income and really sustain these taxes.”
District officials said they may still need to use fund balance to close the gap, even with the tax increase.
Business Manager Michael Malay said the district expects about $101.5 million in total revenue for 2026-27, an increase of roughly $2.8 million from $98.6 million in 2025-26.
That includes $62 million in local revenue, up $63,420; $38 million in state funding, an increase of about $2.8 million; and $1.5 million in federal revenue, up about $36,000. Officials said state funding accounts for the bulk of the increase.
“We built this budget assuming we are getting what the governor proposed,” Malay said.
Instruction remains the district’s largest expense at about $70 million, an increase of roughly $7 million. Major cost drivers include salaries, health care and charter school payments.
Teacher salaries account for a $2.5 million increase, while paraprofessional salaries rose by $250,000 and other salaries increased by $238,000. Medical costs climbed $1.9 million to $11.5 million, and charter school payments rose $800,000 to $7.3 million. Retirement costs total $14 million, up $696,000.
Support services, which include guidance, speech services, transportation and operations, total about $29 million, an increase of 6.8%, or $1.9 million.
The plan also includes $1.5 million to replace about 10 district vehicles, including six buses, two wheelchair-accessible buses and two vans.
“We’re getting to the teetering point of ‘will there be enough buses running to do the bus runs?’” Malay said.
Student activities and athletics are budgeted at $1.6 million, an increase of $65,000. Bond payments and financing total $8.8 million, up 0.09%, or $8,309.
With a projected shortfall of about $6 million after adjustments, district officials said they are reviewing potential savings in areas such as paraprofessional staffing, substitute coverage and equipment costs.
Monday’s discussion was one of several budget meetings ahead of final adoption in June.