KASD Referendum Community Message
Kutztown Area School District Seeks to Inform Voters Prior to May 20 Budget Referendum
The Kutztown Area School District (KASD) has outlined two budget scenarios for the 2025-2026 school year, with a tax referendum scheduled for May 20. The referendum presents voters with the option to approve a property tax increase of 10.63%, which would provide the district with additional revenue to address ongoing cost increases, and strategic budget priorities.
School district budget planning is a complex process, and when a tax increase is put to a referendum, the ballot question lacks specific details regarding how the funds will be allocated. To address this, the Kutztown Area School District is committed to providing information to voters to ensure they are well-informed before casting their votes.
The proposed budget question will read, “Shall the Kutztown Area School District increase local property taxes up to 34.2982 mills, which represents a 10.63% increase for the 2025-2026 school year?”
Major factors that contribute to KASD’s current budget challenges include:
- Annual salary and benefit increases
- Overall decreases in property value assessments driven by corporate tax assessment appeals
- Rising Cyber Charter tuition costs
- Reduced state funding in the current proposed Pennsylvania budget
- Nine consecutive years without tax increases from 2015-16 through 2023-24
Since the submission of the referendum question to the Board of Elections, the district has resolved contractual obligations under more favorable financial terms than initially projected. These include a newly negotiated transportation contract and a teachers’ contract that reflects the dedication and commitment of KASD educators to the district’s mission while also considering the current financial landscape. The Board of School Directors extends its appreciation to the Kutztown Area Teachers Association (KATA) for their understanding of the district’s financial challenges and their willingness to work collaboratively to reach an agreement that supports both staff and the community.
While the referendum question remains unchanged on the ballot, the Board will assess how best to allocate any additional revenue, considering immediate needs and the potential to reserve funds for future budgetary uncertainties.
A “yes” vote will increase the district’s revenue by $2,323,385 and will allow the district to pay for annual cost increases along with the following considerations for Board approval before the June 30th budget adoption deadline:
- Replacing four teaching positions vacated through retirements (two Elementary, one English Language Learning, and one Middle School Librarian/Literacy Intervention) to employ 117 full-time employees
- Adding two teaching positions (one elementary to reduce class sizes and one math intervention teacher for the secondary schools)
- Maintaining the Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Professional Development administration position
- Maintaining current levels of paraeducator support in classrooms
- Adding a dedicated school safety personnel
- Contributing to the Capital Reserve Fund to plan and save for future expenses, such as facilities upgrades
- Avoiding the implementation of “pay to participate” fees for high school and middle school sports and activities
- Avoiding charges/fees for facility usage by community organizations
- Operating a surplus budget and increasing fund balance to prepare for future budgetary constraints
A “no” vote will allow the district to raise property taxes up to 5.0183%, which includes the Act I Index (4% increase) and a PA Dept. of Ed. exception (1.0183%). Under a “no” vote to the referendum and a 4% tax increase scenario, the Administration has presented specific changes for the 2025-2026 school year that will allow the school district to continue to provide the exemplary education Kutztown is known for, which include:
- Eliminating four teaching positions vacated through retirements (Elementary, English Language Learning, High School Science and Middle School Librarian)
- At this staffing level, KASD would have an estimated Student per Teacher ratio of 11.84 to 1 in 2025-26 placing us near but below the Berks County average(12.3 to 1).
- Cutting one administration position–Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Professional Development
- Implementing pay to participate fees for high school and middle school sports and activities and
- Charging facility use fees to community organizations
In presentations at KASD Budget and Finance Committee Meetings, the Administration has presented historical budget information, including the extent to which expenses have been controlled, details on expenses, and measures to reduce expenses for 2025-26.
To access all KASD 2025-26 Budget Presentations, click here or go to https://www.kasd.org/our-people/our-people/budget-and-finance-committee. Video recordings of KASD Budget and Finance Committee meetings are available at http://www.youtube.com/@kutztownareaschooldistrict8299.
If you have any questions, please contact Christian Temchatin, Superintendent, at ctemchatin@kasd.org or 610-683-7361.