McKeesport Area’s budget proposal keeps taxes steady
A projected $2.6 million deficit will be made up with unassigned funds.
McKeesport Area School District’s proposed 2025-26 budget does not include a tax increase for property owners.
The tentative budget, which retains the current 20.96 millage rate, was part of the school board’s agenda for Thursday’s five-minute meeting.
The budget includes $86.5 million in expenditures — a 5% increase from 2024-25 — and $83.8 million in revenue. The district will use $2.6 million in unassigned funds to...
A projected $2.6 million deficit will be made up with unassigned funds.
McKeesport Area School District’s proposed 2025-26 budget does not include a tax increase for property owners.
The tentative budget, which retains the current 20.96 millage rate, was part of the school board’s agenda for Thursday’s five-minute meeting.
The budget includes $86.5 million in expenditures — a 5% increase from 2024-25 — and $83.8 million in revenue. The district will use $2.6 million in unassigned funds to balance the budget.
Under the tentative budget, a majority of the district’s revenue comes from state funding, $61.8 million or 74%.
As usual, employee benefits and salaries make up the largest chunk of expenditures at $48.8 million.
The budget allocates $12.6 million, a $337,414 or 5% increase from the previous year, for charter schools.
The preliminary budget does not include a specific allocation for health insurance costs, but the district projects those will increase by 9%.
Also Thursday, Director Matthew Keller proposed adding a resolution in support of Penn State Greater Allegheny staying open. It will be considered at next week’s voting meeting.
“I can prepare that, Matt, if we can get together just so I can get some information from you,” Solicitor Gary Matta said.
PSUGA is one of multiple branch campuses that the university is considering closing due to declining enrollment.
Director Jason Pavlecic praised Superintendent Donald MacFann and Assistant Superintendent Matthew Mols during the brief meeting for sending out district communications and keeping the community informed throughout the last month.
Since taking the helm at the start of March, MacFann has sent out several memos from the district to families and shared them online regarding incidents in and near McKeesport Area campuses.
“I’ve got a lot of feedback from the public; they’re very satisfied with this,” Pavlecic said. “Sometimes they think there’s a lot, but they’re saying they’d rather have more than what they were having in the past.”
Next week, the board will vote whether to:
• Accept a $275,000 grant from the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation for the 2025 district summer camp.
• Transfer a $80,000 grant from the Jefferson Regional Foundation to the Clairton school district.
