Whitehall-Coplay School Board, during an Oct. 26 committee meeting, discussed the district’s proposed 2027-28 budget. Whitehall-Coplay School District is projecting a nearly $9.9 million deficit, raising questions about how to manage rising costs and plan for the years ahead.

The projected deficit comes after the district faced a roughly $6 million shortfall in its 2026-27 budget. Earlier this year, the school board approved a 4.7% property tax increase and a personnel reorganization plan that reduced 29 positions across the district in an effort to address the financial gap.

During the finance portion of the meeting, district officials said expenses are expected to increase by about $8.8 million, while revenue is expected to grow by about $2 million.

The state has set the district’s adjusted Act 1 tax increase limit at 4.9% for 2027-28. If the district raises taxes by that amount, it would bring in about $2.7 million in additional revenue.

However, even with the increase, the district would still face a deficit of about $7 million.

Officials noted the budget does not include a possible additional $2 million in state funding. That money could help ease some of the financial pressure, but it has not been confirmed.

The district is also looking at ways to reduce spending, including possibly delaying or removing planned expenses for construction and new buses. Officials said eliminating those expenses could significantly reduce the deficit, but that estimate also depends on receiving the additional state funding and raising taxes by the full 4.9%.

Along with the budget discussion, the committee reviewed three possible financing scenarios for a potential project at Steckel Elementary School. The estimated amounts range from $22 million to $33 million.

Depending on the option, the district’s annual debt payments could increase from about $7.5 million to between $8.9 million and just under $10 million.

No decision has been made on which financing option to pursue. Both the budget and Steckel project remain under review, and the numbers could change as discussions continue.

The next Whitehall-Coplay School Board committee meeting is set for 5 p.m. Nov. 23.