Central Bucks Proposes 5.9 Percent Tax Increase For 2025-26

DOYLESTOWN, PA — The Central Bucks School Board on Thursday voted unanimously to advertise its 2025-26 proposed final budget for adoption in June.

The $432.4 million preliminary final budget includes a 5.9 percent tax increase that would boost the average school tax bill by $328 on a district home with a full market value of approximately $635,000.

The district applied for and received an exception from the state to fund rising special education costs. The exception allowed the district to exceed this year's Act One Index, which limits tax increases to four percent without a public referendum.

"The district is facing major cost drivers," said substitute superintendent Dr. Charles Malone, who introduced the pending budget vote at the start of the meeting.

Those cost drivers, he said, include the district's contractural obligations, a six percent net increase in medical and prescription benefit costs, an increase in the district's PSERS contribution (the district's obligation to the retirement system), a six percent increase for outside special education purposes, inflationary increases in supplies and services, and full-day kindergarten purchases outside of the assigned fund balance.

According to Malone, there were no tax increases in the district from 2015 to 2021, which the district's COO Tara Houser has blamed partially on the larger tax increases being felt today.

"The eight years of no tax increases and delayed maintenance on buildings has now come home to roost," Houser said earlier this year. "It's gonna get a little hairy."

According to Malone, even with the proposed tax increase, Central Bucks continues to maintain "one of the lowest tax rates in Bucks County, ranking fourth lowest of the county's districts" while "striving to offer an exceptional educational experience."

The budget is now available for public inspection with a final vote on the spending plan scheduled for June 18.