LEWISTOWN — The Mifflin County School District is facing a $6.1 million budget deficit for the 2026-27 school year, and its board of directors spent much of Thursday night’s Committee of the Whole meeting exploring potential solutions.

Board Treasurer Melinda Kenepp shared budget estimates showing projected revenues of $99,578,217 and expenses of $105,673,887.

However, Kenepp stated that the district plans to use about $1,252,897 from an assigned fund balance for technology, $125,000 in assigned security purchases and the governor’s proposed adequacy funds of about $2,509,000.

According to paschoolswork.org, state officials created an adequacy funding stream to ensure that all public schools have adequate resources to meet student needs.

If the district receives the proposed adequacy funding and applies the planned use of assigned funds, the estimated 2026-27 budget deficit drops to $2,208,773.

Regarding proposed adequacy funding, Kenepp said, “We have every indication that will be included in what’s passed by the state.”

Kenepp added that the district depends on the state for 57% of its revenue.

Kenepp also stated at a May 28 voting meeting that the 2024-25 budget had a $1,812,573 surplus, adding to a history of budget surpluses due to conservative budgeting.

The district often outperforms its approved budgets for each school year and approves conservative budgets to maintain financial balance.

The board will hold a special voting meeting at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 25, in the district Administration Building to approve the 2026-27 school year budget. The directors’ regular voting meeting will follow the budget approval.

Further information from the Committee of the Whole meeting will appear in a future edition of the Sentinel.