Palmerton Area School District hosted a series of budget presentations Tuesday, showcasing financial plans from partner educational entities.

Representatives from the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit, Lehigh Carbon Community College, and Carbon Career & Technical Institute detailed their proposals for the 2025-26 fiscal year. Each presentation highlighted budget increases, operational priorities, and impacts on the district’s contributions.

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit

Dr. Greg Koons, executive director of CLIU, along with Assistant Executive Director Kimberly Talipan and Business Manager Jeanne Coy, presented their general operating budget.

The proposed 2025-26 budget totals approximately $1.7 million, reflecting a $33,000 increase from the previous year.

According to Coy, the rise is due to salary and benefit adjustments, including a projected 3.25% salary increase for teachers and similar adjustments for other staff.

“Despite the increases, the total contributions from our member districts remains unchanged at $819,040, a figure that has held steady for over a decade,” Coy said.

Boyd also outlined factors influencing budget preparation, such as a 9.75% increase in medical prescription benefits and a 16% rise in dental premiums. She noted that the Pennsylvania Public School Employees’ Retirement System rate stood at 34.72% when the budget was finalized.

The budget also highlights sustained curriculum and instruction support funded by district contributions. Increased revenue from state initiatives and curriculum services, Coy said, helps offset some costs.

Palmerton’s estimated contribution for 2025-26 is $19,636, down $305 from 2024-25.

“Individual district contributions, calculated by the Pennsylvania Department of Education based on market value aid ratios, might fluctuate slightly but would not affect the total contribution amount,” she added.

Lehigh Carbon Community College

Dr. Ann Bieber, LCCC president, and Vice President of Finance Stefanie Nester presented a $62.6 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, an increase of $1.3 million in the operating budget. Nester explained that state and district contributions would remain steady, with Palmerton’s share set at $182,000 — a $3,600 decrease from last year.

“Enrollment, particularly in dual enrollment programs, has been a key focus,” Nester said.

The dual enrollment program, she added, has grown 15% since fiscal year 2022, now comprising 16% of total students. Full-time sponsored students will face a 4.85% increase in tuition, bringing annual costs to $7,536, which Nester said remains competitive among Pennsylvania’s 15 community colleges.

“Salary increases for staff range from 2.6% to 2.85%, with health care benefits rising by 11.3%,” she added.

Additionally, the college plans to invest in upcoming infrastructure projects, including air handling units, surveillance cameras, and access control enhancements.

Palmerton Director Brandon Mazepa expressed concern about declining LCCC enrollment and its impact on the community.

“That means students, and even non-traditional students or adult learners, are not taking advantage of the opportunities we have at LCCC,” Mazepa said. “Hopefully we can all work together to really get the message out about everything LCCC can provide from CDL training to aviation, trades, transportation, workforce development and more.”

Carbon Career & Technical Institute

Jeff Deutsch, CCTI business administrator, provided an overview of their $9.5 million budget. About two-thirds of this amount, or $6.3 million, will be funded by five participating Carbon County school districts, including Palmerton.

“Palmerton’s contribution has decreased by around $77,000,” Deutsch said.

It marks the third consecutive year for a decrease, a reflection of lower enrollment from the district.

CCTI’s overall budget saw a 3% year-over-year increase, driven, Deutsch said, by inflation and rising costs for supplies in technical programs.

“We are heading toward a budget deficit, with expenditures outpacing revenue for the second time in a decade,” Deutsch said. “I don’t think it’s something that is going to result in district contribution increases yet, but I have told our board it’s something to keep an eye on.”

Palmerton board members Earl and Danielle Paules raised several questions including fundraising for extracurricular activities and competition fees, expressing concerns about discrepancies in how such costs are managed compared to traditional schools.

The Paules’ also questioned the raise amounts at CCTI, particularly for the Act 93 administrative staff.

“Act 93 staff there got 6 and 7% raises,” Earl Paules said. “That is more than anyone in Carbon County. Normally, it’s about 3%. Also, in Palmerton, the director of technology is in the Act 93 contract. At CCTI, the director of technology is on his own contract. I’d like to know why that is.”

Paules also questioned why CCTI’s business manager, which is the position Deutsch holds, got a 4% raise.

“That is more than just about all Carbon County superintendents,” Paules said.

Deutsch acknowledged the concerns and pledged to provide answers for future meetings.