Whitehall-Coplay School Board held two meetings in June, continuing talks about the budget before approving the district’s 2026-27 spending plan, including a 4.7% property tax increase.

At the June 22 meeting, the board officially adopted the 2026-27 general fund budget in an 8-1 vote, with school board member LoriAnn Fehnel casting the only no vote.

Before the vote, district Solicitor Jeffrey Sultanik reminded the board if the budget wasn’t approved before July 1, the district would not be able to pay bills or continue normal operations.

The board also approved the homestead and farmstead resolutions, the senior citizen rebate program and other financial and personnel items.

Public comment again focused heavily on the district’s finances.

Resident Beth Snyder criticized what she called years of poor financial decisions, saying, “Fiscal irresponsibility has its costs. Currently in Whitehall-Coplay School District, those costs are jobs lost, involuntary transfer (and) cuts in programming for students.”

Superintendent Christopher Schiffert also clarified the agenda items regarding salary increases for the superintendent and assistant superintendent had been removed because they were incorrectly labeled.

“It is not supplemental salary increases. They are contractual salary increases,” Schiffert said.

The board also approved employee compensation plans, transportation contracts, personnel actions, school-based mental health services through 2028 and updates to the district’s curriculum and gifted education plan.

At the June 8 meeting, board members discussed the proposed budget and defended the tax increase ahead of the final vote.

During public comment, Whitehall resident Bruce Charles urged the board to reject the tax hike, saying taxpayers deserve better financial management.

“Taxpayer monies should be valued, protected, and all of you must be the best stewards of our public funds,” Charles said. “A 4.7% tax increase should and must be voted no.”

Finance committee Chair George Williams said board members understand residents’ frustrations but said many of the district’s biggest expenses are out of their control.

“We hate to vote yes on a tax increase,” Williams said. “We hate the fact that we have to put seniors in a difficult position.”

Williams said salaries, benefits, charter school tuition and pension costs make up most of the district’s budget, leaving little room to make cuts. He added the board controls “a very, very small amount of the budget.”

Business Manager Michael Malay said the district has cut its projected budget gap from about $9.2 million to roughly $5.5 million by eliminating staff positions, cutting department budgets, reducing technology spending and removing planned bus purchases.

The current budget uses a 4.7% tax increase to generate about $2.48 million in additional revenue while using about $3.1 million from the district’s fund balance to close the remaining gap.

Board members also discussed refinancing district debt to lower annual payments, though Malay said it could increase borrowing costs over time and would need more review.

Fehnel continued to push back on the elimination of the middle school’s technology education program, saying it is especially important for some special education students.

The board voted to move the proposed budget forward for final approval, which was held June 22.

The school board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for July 27.