Northern Lehigh School District is proposing a 3.5% tax increase for the 2025-26 school year. However, school directors said the final property tax hike in June is unlikely to be that high.

Amid appeals from about a dozen residents, the school board narrowly approved the proposed $42,993,231 general fund budget for 2025-26 in a 5-4 vote.

Voting in favor were Directors Gary Fedorcha, Gale Husack, Robert Kern, Rhonda Frantz, and Board President Mathias Green.

Opposed were Directors Donna Kulp, Chad Christman, Natalie Snyder, and Angela Williams.

The 3.5% increase would raise the millage rate to 26.2543 in Lehigh County and 78.4733 in Northampton County.

The decision drew groans from the audience, who had moments earlier applauded a failed motion for a 3% increase.

That motion was defeated 7-2, with Kulp and Snyder voting in favor.

Public concerns

Resident Susan Wanamaker, who relies on Social Security, warned, “If the government touches my Social Security, I’m going to lose my house.”

Ronald Bauer Jr. expressed frustration over continual tax hikes. “How can it get this bad? Every year for 20 years we had a tax increase,” he said.

“I just think we’re trying to run like with the Joneses down at Parkland, that they’re building, building, building.” Superintendent Dr. Matthew J. Link thanked residents for their respectful comments.

“The manner in which you did it, how everybody conducted themselves, is to be commended,” he said. “That is not always the case, as you read in the media.

“I know it’s a difficult decision that the school board has to make; we appreciate your input. Ultimately, thank you for how you conducted yourself tonight.”

Director Christman echoed Link’s appreciation and encouraged continued involvement. He urged residents to “keep showing up, do their research, reach out to their state elected officials, and encourage tax reform.” Recommendations

Link outlined several staffing changes:

Peters Elementary: A second-grade teacher would be reassigned to third grade due to class sizes. A new paraeducator — funded through the general fund — would be hired to support first-grade students at risk in reading and math.

Slatington Elementary: One special education teacher would be added, funded by reintegrating 2-3 previously outplaced students.

This would eliminate the need to outplace two incoming third graders. A paraeducator would also be hired, funded through savings from a reintegrated student currently requiring a 1-to-1 aide.

Middle School: The high school’s vacant business/technology position, due to retirement, would be repurposed into a new secondary music position shared with the high school.

The district is also considering creating a sixth-grade wing and relocating sixth grade to the middle school.

High School: The same business/technology position would be repurposed as part of the shared music role with the middle school.

Budget Breakdown

District Business Manager Sherri Molitoris said current expenses total $42,993,231. Revenues, without using the fund balance, are $40,381,929 — leaving a shortfall of $2,611,302.

The district plans to use $1,082,000 from its fund balance for one-time costs such as a truck, school furniture, high school flooring, a water softener system, and increased retiree and health care expenses.

This would reduce the shortfall to $1,529,302. Molitoris said, “The estimated ending fund balance for 2025-26, if $1,082,000 is used for one-time expenses and other increases, would be $17,686,874.

If the remaining $1.5 million shortfall is also covered using the fund balance — which reflects recurring costs — the ending fund balance would be approximately $16,157,572.”

Background

In December, the board approved an Act 1 resolution to cap any tax increase at 5.5%.

Last June, taxpayers saw a 2% tax increase after the board adopted a $40,324,052 general fund budget for the 2024-25 school year by an 8-1 vote.

That set the millage rate at 25.3731 in Lehigh County (per $100 assessed value) and 75.6628 in Northampton County (per $1,000 assessed value).

At the time, Molitoris said the estimated fund balance as of June 30, 2024, would be $16,871,542. Of that, $871,139 was designated for one-time purchases and future district needs.

Revenues without using the fund balance were $38,786,129.