(5/25) The Fairfield Area School Board reduced its potential tax increase to 2% during a recent meeting. The board dedicated 1% of that hike to the district’s operational fund and 1% to the proposed future expansion of Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI). This is the second year for the ACTI allocation, similar to other Adams County districts’ pledge to the project.
The proposal, which will be presented for final adoption on June 23, includes $23.35 million in expenditures and $22.81 million in revenue. The difference will be funded from the assigned fund balance.
Business Manager Scott Wilt reminded the board that local revenue is the district’s largest source of income. Of the $14.087 million in local revenue expected for the 2025-26 school year, $10.16 million will come from property taxes. The district is expected to receive $8.65 million from the state and $162,621 from the federal government.
During a work session in May, several residents who moved to the area from Maryland in recent years lambasted the board for perceived overspending and lack of fundraising. The citizens pleaded with the board to remember those on fixed incomes.
Wilt, who joined the district’s staff last year, said he has already saved the district money in several ways, including changing banks, switching copiers, eliminating unnecessary software, and hiring staff who were previously contracted through and third-party company.
Wilt also said the cost of running the district is increasing. Contractually-obligated salaries and wages will rise 4.80% and employee benefits will increase 5.15%. The district is expected to spend $449,000 more on charter schools compared to the 2024-25 school year. Charter school tuition is mandated under Pennsylvania law.
"Things are going up, but the tax rate doesn’t seem to be going up a whole lot," he said.
The citizens also questioned the necessity of several planned capital projects. Administrators are exploring capital projects totalling $539,000 at the following estimated costs: high school auditorium stage curtain, $35,000; elementary gym floor, $130,000; maintenance building roof, $35,000; utility vehicle, $15,000; stadium scoreboard, $78,000; stadium lights, $158,000; and a library refresh, $539,000.
Board members said previous boards delayed maintenance to save money but those short-term fixes ended up being costlier in the long run.
"Please start thinking about the bigger picture, what this does for this community and everyone in it," Theodore Sayres, Jr., board secretary, said.
