Despite having several weeks to prepare for one of their most impactful (and sometimes troublesome) annual votes, the Saucon Valley School Board found its June 28 budget-centered meeting and outcome painful: For the first time in five years, landowners will see an increase in their taxes.

Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty’s administration proposed a budget May 10 that would raise $1.1 million in revenue by imposing a 3.3 percent increase from the district’s current rate of 53.43 mills (the lowest in Northampton County) to 55.2466, but it was unanimously shot down the same evening.

Then on May 24, the board approved Bryan Eichfeld’s modified version of the proposed $51 million budget – now featuring a more modest 2.3 percent increase to 54.6589 mills (bringing nearly $750,000 in new revenue) – by a narrow 5-4 margin. Board President Dr. Shamim Pakzad, Edward Andres, Michael Karabin and Shawn Welch accounted for the “no” votes.

Welch kicked June 28’s discussion off in earnest, as he stressed his reluctance to rely too heavily on the district’s fund balance – a savings account generally earmarked for those types of incidental and recurring costs – to cover large shortfalls.

Along with the new revenue from the tax hike, the proposed budget covers the $2 million deficit by using approximately $1.25 million from the account.

At the current pace, the account – the balance of which Business Manager David Bonenberger later advised is approximately $12 million – would become insolvent in 2026, Welch said. He also accurately noted that the district boasts the second-highest per-pupil tax rate in the Lehigh Valley and dedicates 72 percent of its budget to staff salary and benefits.

However, after a prolonged, grievance-fueled speech bemoaning the general state of the national economy (and some of his self-identified causes), Welch indicated that, despite the “realist in [him],” he somewhat illogically planned to vote against the budget solely due to his philosophical opposition to tax increases.

On the other hand, Andres encouraged using the fund balance to rectify the shortage instead of a tax increase, saying it represents previous tax dollars already deducted.

Seemingly trying to move the proceedings along, board Vice President Susan Baxter then attempted to affirm that all nine board members were “behind the budget as it’s presented here tonight” – despite both Welch and Andres explicitly stating minutes earlier that they would both be voting “no.”

But when Andres expressed his disagreement with Baxter’s declaration, she challenged him and others to present specific ideas to reduce expenditures.

Andres stuttered briefly before responding, “I’m the only [board member] who voted against the Spanish Immersion [Program].”

Andres also stated his opposition to funding student-athlete trips to out-of-state tournaments, although Baxter later reminded him that there’s been only one example of such: The varsity wrestling team attending an annual competition in Delaware.

Baxter also said she largely agreed with Welch, “but I have to put aside my philosophical differences,” adding, “It is completely unwise – and is setting up the community for huge tax increases in the future – if we start balancing the budget with funds that are there for non-recurring costs.”

Eventually, Karabin chimed in, saying he initially planned to vote “no,” but Welch’s comments made him “doubt whether we should pull money from the fund balance.” He said he remained opposed, however, because the proposed budget didn’t offer a long-term solution. He did not offer suggestions of his own.

Pakzad and Cedric Dettmar also briefly expressed their thoughts, mostly aligning with Eichfeld and Baxter. John Conte and Tracy Magnotta offered few or no comments.

Ultimately, the budget passed by a 5-3 vote with Conte’s abstention and Andres, Karabin and Welch in opposition.

In other news, the board approved the resignation of former high school principal Tamara Gary. Gary, who was hired in 2018 to succeed Beth Guarriello, was noticeably absent from the district’s June 3 commencement. A replacement will be named at a later date.