Pottstown School District is weighing a 3% tax hike as part of its draft $96.5 million budget for the 2026-2027 school year, which would raise the tax rate to 45.72 mills and still require drawing $2.3 million from the district's $25.8 million reserve fund to close a projected deficit. The proposed increase is less than last year's 5.8% hike — the maximum allowed by the state — which came after six years of flat taxes. Business manager Maureen Oakley cited several factors easing the strain this year, including more state funding than anticipated and a drop in charter school enrollment from 340 to 320 students following new verification requirements. On the expense side, sharply rising medication costs remain a concern, with some districts seeing increases as high as 40%. Board members expressed cautious optimism about the budget's trajectory, though one member pushed back on any tax increase, noting residents "are already being hit in so many other ways." The final budget must be adopted by the end of June.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 3/30/2026