AllentownSchool District

ASD Board Approves Proposed Budget

ASD Board Approves Proposed Budget
Posted on 05/27/2021

With a unanimous vote, tonight, the Allentown Board of School Directors approved the proposed budget for the 2021-22 school year. The final budget is scheduled to be presented in June. District administration was able to present a balanced budget for the board’s consideration.


“The district and our board work to make the most of every dollar our community invests in our schools,” said Charlie Thiel, Chair of the Board’s Finance Committee.  “However, we continue to face a structural deficit, exacerbated by state and federal funding that fails to keep up with the costs of operating schools. It is our hope that the state legislature takes action in the coming weeks to find a solution that equitably funds school districts in the Commonwealth, which would ultimately benefit the students of Allentown and our taxpayers.”


During a Special Finance Committee Meeting earlier this month, the district highlighted significant improvements in its budgeting process and management of its fiscal affairs, including reducing the projected deficit.  ASD continues to face rising costs associated with charter school payments, retirement contributions, and special education, which annually eclipse most revenue increases the district sees. 


The budget includes a one-time influx of federal funding in the form of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER), provided as part of the COVID-19 relief package. It also assumes no increases in state subsidies and a Real Estate Millage increase of 4.6% percent. 


ASD plans to use the ESSER funding to maintain district operations, improve air quality and ventilation in buildings, and invest in academic programs & resources. ASD seeks input and feedback from the Allentown community through a survey on proposed uses of the federal ESSER dollars. The survey takes a few minutes to complete and is available for members of the community to take in English & Spanish


The proposed final 2021-22 budget presentation is posted publicly on the ASD website for review. Approval of the final budget is expected before June 30. 


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