MIFFLINTOWN — Taxes in the Juniata County School District have gone up nearly every year since the 2013-14 school year.

Next year won’t be one of them. With a balanced budget in hand, the district’s board of directors voted 6-3 to approve the budget without a tax increase.

The school board approved the proposed 2026-27 budget of $51,356,653, with a proposed real estate tax of 81.592 mills, a five-dollar per capita tax, a five-dollar residence tax, a ten-dollar flat rate occupation tax, a one-percent real estate transfer tax, a one-half percent earned income tax, and a five-percent amusement tax.

The taxes are effective July 1, 2026, and are subject to final board approval in June 2026. The board also approved a resolution authorizing the display and advertising of the proposed final budget for 2026-27.

With funding expected to be challenging in the near future, directors discussed a small tax increase to compensate. “I’d rather see small bites than big ones myself,” director Jackson Albert said.

Director Gabby Fisher said a social media poll she conducted showed that most taxpayers preferred small tax increases compared to one big increase every few years.

But with a balanced budget, director Mark Wagner was firm in his stance. “This year, I don’t think we can touch this,” Wagner said. Albert, Fisher and Leslie Milliken voted against the budget without any tax increase.

Meily also cautioned the board that without new state revenue for 2027-28, there will likely be additional discussion about increasing taxes.

Contracts and agreements

The school board approved:

-An agreement with Merakey Pennsylvania, headquartered in Lafayette Hill, Montgomery County, for providing educational services to students with autism or emotional disturbances.

-Increasing the number of student intern positions to 10.

-Contracting with NRG Controls, of Selinsgrove, to furnish access control I coordination with the construction of an accessible entrance at Tuscarora Junior High School in Mifflintown. The total cost of the project was $50,605.

-A letter of agreement with Beacon Light to coordinate care services, starting July 1, 2026, and continuing through June 30, 2028.

Donations

The school board voted to accept a $500 donation from an anonymous donor to offset Juniata Elementary School student lunch debts.

Facility use requests

The school board approved:

-Kurt Condo, of Juniata Jaguars baseball, Juniata High School baseball field, practice, Sundays in May through July 2026, no fee;

-Ryan Stahl, of Bunkertown Church, East Juniata and Juniata High School softball fields, Juniata County Church Softball, Tuesdays and Thursdays from May 19 through July 30, 2026, no fee;

-Shannon Whitesel, of Home and School, Tuscarora Junior High School facilities, vendor show, Friday, Oct. 23, 2026, and Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, no fee.

Field trips

The school board approved the following field trips:

-East Juniata Elementary School third-grade students, trout release, Haldeman Park, Thompsontown, Friday, May 15, 2026;

-15 Juniata Elementary School students, tour, Tuscarora Junior High School, Friday, May 15, 2026;

-About 70 East Juniata Elementary School students, performance, FNB Field, Harrisburg, Tuesday, May 19, 2026;

-Five Juniata High School students, State Envirothon competition, Mifflinburg, Wednesday, May 20, 2026;

-East Juniata High School NHS, PBIS Incentive Event Volunteers, East Juniata High School, Friday, May 29, 2026.

Personnel matters

The school board approved:

-Retirement of Vivian R. Brubaker, paraprofessional at Juniata Elementary School, effective June 2, 2026;

-Resignations of Tiffany J. Peck, paraprofessional at Juniata Elementary School, effective June 2, 2026; Travis W. Quici, librarian, athletic director and Juniata County Virtual Academy director, effective June 30, 2026; and Emma Hogan, kindergarten teacher at East Juniata Elementary School, effective June 4, 2026.

-Hiring of Denise R. Primak, special education teacher at Tuscarora Junior High School, effective Aug. 18, 2026 due to Karen Crossley transfer; and Kimberly Watts, special education teacher at Juniata Elementary School, effective Aug. 18, 2026 due to Rachael Lamey resignation;

-Hannah Book, Bryanna Swartz, Lewis Boop and Mya Crissman as student interns at East Juniata Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year;

-Transfer of Lisa K. Rosenberry from the position of Juniata Elementary School full-time LPN/secretary to the position of special education secretary, at her current salary rate and at a date to be determined. She replaces Susan Hackenberger, who is retiring.

-Transfer of Joy N. Abram from the position of Juniata Elementary School LPN/secretary to the position of Juniata Elementary School full-time LPN/secretary, to replace Lisa Rosenberry, at a salary and date to be determined.

-Transfer of Marcus M. Brothers from an East Juniata High School life skills classroom teaching position to a Tuscarora Junior High School life skills classroom teaching position, to replace Donald Parson, who is retiring, effective with the 2026-27 school year.

-Establishing a kindergarten teaching position at Juniata Elementary School for the 2026-27 school year;

-Richard Meily as treasurer of the Juniata County School District Board of Directors for a period of one year.

Next meeting

The school board’s next workshop meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 10, at the administration building in Mifflintown.