Minutes - May 7, 2025 Committee of the Whole-Budget Discussion (ADA Compliant)

HOLLIDAYSBURG AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT
MINUTES

The Hollidaysburg Area School Board met for a Committee of the Whole – Budget Discussion on Wednesday, May 7, 2025 in the Senior High Library, 1510 N. Montgomery Street, Hollidaysburg. Ms. Bilek called the meeting to order at 4:57p.m.

Roll call was taken by Mrs. Fiscus with nine members present.  Attending were Mrs. Bilek, Dr. Sommer, Ms. Sullivan, Dr. Li, Mr. Snyder, Ms. Luther, Dr. Wells, Ms. Costanza and Mr. Brenneman. Also present were Mr. Whitesel, Superintendent, Dr. Boone, Assistant Superintendent, Mrs. Prosser, Director of Special Education, Mrs. Fiscus, Business Manager/Board Secretary, Mrs. Bell, Director of Accounting Operations, Mr. Caldwell, Director of Human Resource, Mr. Nihart, Director of Physical Plant, Mr. Arthur, Director of Technology, Mr. DeLattre, Attorney O’Brien, Solicitor and an Altoona Mirror representative.

Mrs. Fiscus reviewed the timeline for the budget and reminded the board that changes can be made to the budget up to the date of final adoption in June.

Mrs. Fiscus and Mrs. Bell prepared the 2025-2026 budget binder for review. 

The fund balance as of July 1 is estimated at $11,970,000.  Budgeted revenue for 25-26 with a full Act 1 increase is estimated at $56,631,355 and expenditures are estimated at $60,123,676, leaving a deficit of expenditures over revenue of $3,492,321.  Subtracting the deficit from the district’s fund balance, the district would end the year with an estimated total fund balance for June 30, 2025 of $8.5 million and ending unassigned fund balance of 4.8 million or 7.95%.

Mr. Whitesel noted that if the board chooses to go to the full Act 1 index it would generate $1.1 million.  In comparison, the district will owe $1.2 million to cyber charter schools.   Mr. Whitesel encouraged board members and the community to reach out to local politicians for cyber charter reform.

Mrs. Fiscus will put together several scenarios of the proposed budget with different tax increases to bring to the May 14 Committee of the Whole/Voting Meeting for a vote on the Proposed Budget.  Changes can be made between the preliminary budget and the final budget adoption in June.

Mrs. Bilek declared the meeting adjourned at 7:07pm.

Autumn Fiscus, Board Secretary