Knoch DME

JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch’s school board anticipates its total revenue will slightly increase for the 2026-27 school year, with local and state funds going up. However, revenue growth remains “modest” and below projected cost increases.

Jamie Van Lenten, Knoch’s business manager, said Wednesday, March 4, the district will likely see a total budget revenue for next school year of just over $39.7 million. This would be a $430,000 increase, around 1%, from 2025-26.

The Knoch administration’s revenue presentation and the board’s budget preparations come months after schools in Butler County and Pennsylvania saw state funding delayed for over 100 days due to the Pennsylvania General Assembly’s budget impasse.

According to the presentation, the revenue projections are “conservative” and “trend-based.” But while revenue remains stable, expenditure growth may outpace revenue trends.

Knoch has managed to not increase its millage rates for the past eight years, keeping it flat at 94.275 mills since 2018. A mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value.

Last year, Knoch’s board had discussed a potential tax increase of 3.771 mills for 2025-26, but ultimately decided it would not raise the millage rate. It dipped into its existing reserve funds to cover a smaller budget deficit.

Van Lenten said at the Wednesday school board meeting the primary reasons for revenue growth include “steady real estate growth” and an increase in state subsidy estimates.

Next year’s local tax revenue for Knoch School District is expected to be roughly $22.1 million, about 55% of total revenue.

“Our collections are stable, our assessed values are trending normally. I know you’ve seen a couple development areas around here,” Van Lenten said. “Penn Township, some of those houses are coming in that we’ve talked about a couple years ago. I know that there’s some properties in Saxonburg as well. There’s a very consistent assessed value.”

Revenue from the state for 2026-27 is expected to be around $17.6 million.

Only $26,000 in federal revenue is expected for Knoch in 2026-27.

The school board will be presented expected budget expenditures for 2026-27 when it meets in April. The official proposed “final budget” will be presented in May, and a vote will happen in June.