The Pottstown School Board finance committee met on May 8 to further discuss the budget, and many members are unwilling to make some of the cuts recommended by the administration. A $9 million budget gap announced in February has been reduced to $3.3 million by increasing taxes to the maximum allowed by the state and making cuts, including: not replacing a retiring music teacher, moving all the district’s librarians to vacant positions, not replacing two math teachers, cutting teacher coaches, and cutting school counselors, speech therapist and occupational therapist positions. School board members requested more information from the administration, including the financial implications of leaving some of the positions filled and using more of the district’s fund balance to cover the deficit. According to district business manager Maureen Oakley, the maximum allowed 5.8% tax increase would amount to an additional $192 for a property assessed at $79,000, with the increase cut to $85 if the property is registered for homestead tax relief.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 5/13/2025