Bristol Twp. School Board Considering $179 Million Budget With Tax Increase

The Bristol Township School Board has approved a $179 million preliminary budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes a 4.6 percent property tax increase.

The proposed increase translates to an approximate $16 monthly increase, or about $196 annually, for the average homeowner in the district. School district taxes are separate from Bristol Township and Bucks County taxes.

State law requires a final budget to be approved by June 30.

The school board is scheduled to vote on the final spending plan at its June 24 meeting.

Despite rising healthcare, energy, and special education costs, the $179 million figure represents a $2 million reduction from the current fiscal year’s budget.

Amber Kitchenman, the district’s business manager and CFO, said the administration’s main objective was to preserve existing educational programs while managing financial headwinds.

The district, which serves approximately 6,000 students, projects it will generate $92 million in property tax revenue based on an estimated 95 percent collection rate.

In a bid to achieve spending reductions, the district is eliminating 26 positions through attrition and retirements, which will result in zero layoffs. The eliminated positions comprise 11 certified staff members, eight support staff roles, one administrative vacancy, and six unfilled part-time lunch and playground monitor positions.

“Fortunately, this was a retirement year entire incentive year for our staff,” Kitchenman said. “We were able to have an incentive that was able to provide attrition through our teachers.”

Staff adjustments were also aided by a redesigned middle school schedule that streamlined electives and let teachers to transition into alternative roles rather than facing job cuts.

Additional cuts include $140,000 from facilities and operations, $60,000 from technology services, and general reductions for equipment and supplies across all district departments.

To save money, the district is not going to purchase any new vehicles in the 2026-2027 school year and increase secondary class sizes due to teacher attrition.

The budget eliminates the boys lacrosse program, which folded midway through the previous season because of a lack of players and experienced low interest this year.

District officials said they plan to explore future partnerships with smaller neighboring districts, such as Bristol Borough and Morrisville Borough, to potentially revive the sport.

District officials said that all existing educational programs, after-school clubs, athletic schedules, co-curricular programming, and summer and cyber options will remain in place.

“We are not cutting any educational programs and in fact we are bringing back students,” Kitchenman said.

As part of its plan to curb spending, the Bristol Township School District plans to partner with local school districts to transition students back from Bucks County Intermediate Unit programs, a move expected to lower special education costs.

Salaries and benefits account for 70 percent of the overall budget. Tuition expenses for cyber and charter schools, special education services, and the Bucks County Technical High School make up other portions of it.

“Most of our contracts, if not all of them, have 4 percent increases,” Kitchenman said. “And benefits, which include things like health care, are skyrocketing.”

Spikes in fuel and energy costs have also driven up operations and transportation expenses for the district.

The district expects a decrease in its debt service following a recent restructuring.

Revenue balancing will be aided by proceeds from the planned sale of Franklin D. Roosevelt Elementary School, which will net the district nearly $6 million.

The budget does not draw from the district’s fund balance to cover costs.

The district secured a state grant for safety and security upgrades and a separate three-year state grant to expand after-school club offerings.

Overall state funding remains uncertain as the state legislature approaches its own end-of-June budget deadline. The district’s preliminary budget assumes $66.5 million in state revenue, but Kitchenman urged caution regarding those projections.

“Everything that we do is based on what the state thinks they will provide us,” Kitchenman said.

Federal funding remains a minimal contributor at 1.52 percent of the budget.

School Board President James Morgan said he knows the financial strain the tax increase may place on residents, adding that the school district is Bristol Township’s largest employer.

“It affects all nine of us up here also,” Morgan said. “So don’t think we’re immune because we sit on this school board.”

Superintendent Michael Nitti credited Kitchenman for balancing the budget under economic pressures.

“Our mission was to develop a budget that effectively navigates these challenges and continues to provide valued programs and opportunities for our students,” Nitti said.