BUFFALO TWP — While school districts across Pennsylvania are enduring — and preparing for — hard financial times as a result of the state government’s budget impasse, officials from the Freeport Area School District say that it will be able to cover essential costs with its fund balance for the next few months.

According to school board member Gary Risch Jr., the district has about $8 million left over in its fund balance to make payments and cover payroll.

Because the state’s budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year has not been passed (the deadline was June 30), the district is missing out on millions of dollars in subsidies, including just under $8.15 million from the state’s Basic Education Funding formula.

“We’re at a really good place to where we can actually make it through February,” Risch said. “We’re making our payments and making our payroll out of that fund balance until that money comes back from the government.”

“Freeport’s in a good position, because we budget pretty conservatively,” said district superintendent Ian Magness. “We have a fund balance we can draw from, but come January or February, we’re going to come into some trouble if we don’t have a state budget by then.”

In September, the school district began selling bonds to raise money for the renovation of Freeport Senior High School. Plans for the proposed renovation, estimated to cost $55 million, were approved in June. According to Magness, the district raised $9.995 million through the bond issue.

In connection with the bond sale, the school district has received an “A1” bond rating from credit rating agency Moody’s, indicating an investment-grade, low-risk bond.

“That bond sale saved over $2 million in borrowing costs that were previously projected,” Magness said. “We’re super happy and pleased about that.”