MORGAN HUBER | FOR LNP | LANCASTERONLINE
When: Columbia Borough School board meeting, June 9.
What happened: The school board unanimously approved the 2026-27 general budget at the final meeting for the 2025-26 school year.
Details: With expenses projected at $35.1 million and revenue of $34.5 million, this budget resolution sets the tax rate for Columbia residents at 25.26 mills. This results in a .40 mill or 1.5% reduction from 2025-26, a first for the school district, which has consistently refrained from increasing taxes for the last six years. One mill equals $1 in taxes for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
More: The board also approved a resolution for the Homestead and Farmstead Exclusion Act, with the estimated total reduction in real estate taxes at $622.53 for approved homesteads, an increase from last year. In addition, the board committed the $9.38 million in remaining fund balance from the 2025-26 year for future retirement benefit costs, technology and curriculum purchases, and learning loss costs.
Next steps: The budget documents will be sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Education for approval. All public school districts in the Commonwealth are required to submit their 2026-27 general fund budgets to the PDE by June 30.
Columbia Spy 