SOUTH WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. — Parkland Area School Board took a look at the district's capital action plan during Tuesday, with a plan to play it safe in 2026.
The question is, will the district be able to keep costs in line with needed projects, or might there be a tax increase in Parkland's future?
Only three projects have been slated for 2026, but further work on the capital action plan might see the district use property tax increases to bridge a potential budget gap in the future.Parkland School Board presentation
Parkland Facilities and Operations Director Arthur Oakes led the review session for the plan, covering completed capital projects from 2024, ongoing projects in 2025 and plans for at least three projects in 2026.
While 2025 saw slightly fewer projects than the year prior, costs escalated substantially.
Add the potential increase in prices for building materials because of federal tariffs, and the future looks uncertain.
So Parkland aims to play it safe in 2026.
Only three projects have been slated for 2026, but further work on the capital action plan might see the district use property tax increases to bridge a potential budget gap in the future.
Past, present projects
According to Oakes, Parkland completed 18 capital projects across 13 buildings totaling to $6,472,074 in 2024, including a $3 million HVAC replacement at Kernsville Elementary.
“So as we're looking at 2024, it was really a diverse year across the district for us because we did a bunch of good things to a lot of elementary schools," Oakes said.
"We essentially touched every building except the Troxell Building in some way, some fashion."
"We're basically pushing the limits of our ability for these capital action items, and we're not really saving enough."Parkland Director of Facilities and Operations Arthur Oakes
For 2025, there now are 11 projects across five buildings, totaling $10,335,414.
Some of the larger ones are $5,743,000 for HVAC replacements at Cetronia Elementary and $2,154,812 for work on a bus loop at Fogelsville Elementary.
“This is a list that varies every day, so we're constantly adjusting based on the dollars," Oakes said.
"So at Cetronia, we're doing that HVAC replacement, we're doing the building and site work and demo, and we're looking at the kindergarten playground.
"We're going to see how the money shakes out. We would like to do that. That's something that's been on our list for years at Cetronia."
Looking to 2026, the district currently has three projects across three buildings amounting to $3,622,400.
Two chillers at Parkland High School will be replaced at the cost of $2.2 million, and renovations and HVAC upgrades at the administrative building are listed at $1,422,400.
Oakes pointed to the replacement of the chillers — one recently failed, and the other is just as old and prone to do so — as examples of surprise expenditures that could add up substantially.
“Some of our strategies that we're trying to do is to also save a little bit of money for when some of this stuff happens," Oakes said.
"So as you saw in those previous numbers, we're basically pushing the limits of our ability for these capital action items, and we're not really saving enough for, I'll say, a future roof project or if a situation comes up."
Future projects
For 2026, Oakes said the project load was intended to be conservative and limited to necessary projects, which would let the district to “get a little cushion built back up.”
“Those chillers are what we need to do," he said. "We think that the admin building falls into that same category and needs to be done once we move out all those people.
"It just makes sense to do it while it's a little bit vacant. The opportunity is there. So that's why the items are small this year."Parkland Director of Facilities and Operations Arthur Oakes
"It just makes sense to do it while it's a little bit vacant. The opportunity is there. So that's why the items are small this year."
Board members expressed concern over the possibility there would be little funding to address critical, unplanned problems.
Oakes said that as it stands, the 2026 figures would let the district “absorb it and handle it.”
Oakes reassured the board that the plan was fluid, and could be adjusted as they went along.
He said he would return to the board, possibly in October.
A capital plan retreat is set for the fall of 2025.
Possible tax increase for 2025-26?
Neither Oakes nor the board addressed the potential for tax increases in the 2025-26 school year budget if the capital plan sees more projects listed.
Last year, the board settled on a millage rate of 17.12, a 5% increase over the previous rate, to balance the budget of $236,584,643.
In January, the board approved a resolution that would limit a tax increase for the 2025-26 school year to a maximum 4%, as per the Act 1 index calculated by the state Education Department.
“We are committed to maintaining a high-quality education and facilities that set the stage for continued student success, while investing in long-term solutions to manage growth.”Parkland Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson
“While it is never an easy decision to raise taxes, this budget proactively and responsibly plans for our future needs,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Madson said at the time the 2024-25 budget was approved.
“We are committed to maintaining a high-quality education and facilities that set the stage for continued student success, while investing in long-term solutions to manage growth.”
Whether the district will have to seek another increase for 2025-26 remains to be seen.
With the district limiting capital projects in 2026, an increase may not needed, though it could lead to another dip into the fund balance to make ends meet.
Add in an increasing number of students and a need for educators and staff to support them, and it appears that next year's budget could very well include a tax increase.
