Property owners in the Kennett Consolidated School District will face a 4.8% tax hike for the 2024-2025 school year if the preliminary budget is approved as is. The numbers, calculated by district CFO Mark Tracy and announced by board treasurer Michael Finnegan, reflected an increase from the current $98 million operating budget to $104 million. Finnegan referred to the increase as unfortunate and said that it is the result of inflation. “We have three more meetings to look at this,” he said. “Each year we have been able to bring it down [by the final vote in June].” Based on the preliminary numbers presented, the average homeowner in the district who paid about $5,950 for the 2023-2024 school year will pay about $6,230 for 2024-2025 if no reduction of the initial numbers is worked out before the final vote on June 10. The preliminary budget does not include any additional funding for the building of two new elementary schools.
Source: Chester County Press; 1/10/2024