School board announces $1.8 million budget deficit

Decrease in deficit for 2026-27 budget

LEWISTOWN -- The Mifflin County School District Board of Directors announced a decrease in its 2026-27 budget's net deficit from about $5.6 million to an adjusted net deficit of about $1.8 million on Thursday during the committee of the whole meeting.

Chief Financial Officer Jennifer Wingard recognized former Chief Financial Officer Melinda Kenepp before detailing budget updates.

"This transitional period with Mrs. Kenepp has been invaluable to my learning and getting acclimated to school district operations," Wingard said.

She explained that the district came out ahead in its budget following the state's finalization of its own budget, which included a $565 million increase in adequacy funding for schools.

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

Wingard stated that the district saw a roughly $34,000 decrease in basic education funding from the state, a roughly $17,000 increase in special education funding from the state, and about $2.5 million in adequacy funding, resulting in a net increase of about $2.4 million.

Wingard said that the resulting adjusted net deficit of $1.8 million will be covered by the district's fund balance.

Superintendent of Schools Vance Varner later added that the district was concerned about the state providing adequacy funding through the state's rainy day fund, but because the state did not use the rainy day fund, the district has a more optimistic view of its 2027-28 budget.

Further information regarding the committee of the whole meeting will appear in a future edition of The Sentinel.