Understanding how your school district’s budget works can feel complicated — but it doesn’t have to be. This article is part of our "Understanding the Burrell School District Budget: What Every Taxpayer Should Know" series. Over the next few weeks, we’ll walk you through the major parts of the 2025-26 budget: how it’s built, why tax rates are where they are, and what’s driving district decisions.
👉 Stay informed by attending public meetings throughout May and June, where you can learn more, ask questions, and help shape the future of our schools.
How the Burrell Budget Process Works
The budget process begins in January and spans about six months, culminating in board approval by the end of June, as required by Pennsylvania law. This timeline is guided by Act 1 of 2006, which introduced specific budgeting requirements for school districts, including early deadlines for tax decisions and financial planning. “We don't just carry over last year's numbers and add a percentage,” explained Business Administrator Jennifer Callahan. “We start at zero and justify each expenditure based on current needs.” Early in the process, administrators, principals, and instructional department heads work together to assess their needs, while teachers submit detailed requests for programs, materials, and staffing — all of which must align with the district’s core priorities.
As Superintendent Shannon Wagner emphasized, “Everything we propose supports student growth, academic achievement, and social-emotional wellness.”
Each proposal undergoes a detailed internal review where the leadership team questions and verifies the educational value, cost-effectiveness, and necessity of every line item. Only after this thorough review is a draft budget prepared, which factors in both anticipated expenditures and estimated revenues from local, state, and federal sources.
Why the Budget Process Matters
The Burrell budget is not simply a financial plan — it reflects the evolving needs of today’s students. Wagner noted, “What schools are asked to do today is very different than five or ten years ago. We have to balance providing academic excellence with addressing new social and emotional needs, and that requires thoughtful investment.”
Growing demands for mental health support, special education services, and school safety measures make today’s budgeting decisions more complex than ever. While many costs, such as state-mandated transportation or increasing health insurance premiums, are largely outside local control, Burrell School District actively seeks efficiencies. The district often eliminates positions through attrition and continually evaluates staffing and service models to stretch taxpayer dollars as far as possible.
How You Can Stay Involved
The budget process is open and transparent, and Burrell encourages community involvement every step of the way. Key upcoming opportunities include:
- May 13 Agenda Meeting: Review of the Proposed Final Budget
- May 20 Board Meeting: Board adoption of the Proposed Final Budget
- June 17 Agenda Meeting: Review adjustments and the recommended Final Budget
- June 24 Board Meeting: Final Budget Adoption
Callahan points to the importance of participating early, noting, “If residents want to understand the full story behind the numbers, the best thing they can do is attend these meetings.”
👉 We encourage residents to attend these public sessions, hear the detailed explanations behind the numbers, and engage before final votes are taken.
Your Voice Matters
Understanding the Burrell School District budget starts with understanding the careful, deliberate process behind it. Through detailed planning, zero-based budgeting, and a commitment to meeting student needs, the district strives to balance educational excellence with fiscal responsibility.
As Wagner put it, “At the end of the day, the school district is a foundation for our community. We need to invest wisely so that families continue to choose Burrell as their home.”
👉 To stay informed, please attend the upcoming budget meetings, review information posted on the district website, and take an active role in shaping our schools. Your involvement helps ensure our community remains strong and thriving for generations to come.