Unionville-Chadds Ford School District directors once again passed a budget with a tax increase levied on property owners in the district. Unlike most years, however, the vote wasn’t unanimous. The lone “no” vote came from Director Brian Schartz who motioned to approve the 2024-2025 academic year budget.
The budget calls for revenues of $105,838,802, with real estate taxes of 32.61 mils for Chester County property owners — an increase of 2.07 percent — and 18.57 mils in Chadds Ford, the only Delaware County municipality in the district. The tax increase for Chadds Ford property owners is 11.06 percent. (A mil is a tax of $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value.)
Schartz, who lives in Chadds Ford and represents Region C, said: “As everyone knows, I voted against this final budget last month. Because this is the same budget that is presented today, I’m going to vote the same way, the same conflicted way.”
Schartz went on to explain the total expenditure is appropriate to meet the educational needs but “the disparate tax impact on different members of our community is just too much for me to bear.”
Jody Allen, also from Chadds Ford, said he agreed with Schartz about the high increase for Chadds Ford property owners but voted in favor of the budget.
“I agree wholeheartedly. The current disparity in taxation between Chester and Delaware County does not sit well with me,” Allen said, “but while I agree the overall budget is a solid budget and upholds our commitment to all-day kindergarten of the ’25-’26 school year… All that being said, and even though I’m elected from Region C and I represent Chadds Ford and Pennsbury, I also represent the entire school district and, even though it’s not in my own best interest to have a tax increase this high in Chadds Ford, I have to think about the entire district and I do think overall budget is a fair and solid one, I will vote yes,” he said during the discussion before the vote.
Erin Talbert, from Pennsbury, also said she agreed the taxation differential is a problem but voted in favor of the budget despite the increase for Chadds Ford property owners.
The final vote was 8-1 and the new budget and tax levies go into effect on July 1.
Other business
Directors voted to spend some money on facility upgrades and improvements at Pocopson and Chadds Ford Elementary Schools. The exterior of Pocopson Elementary School will be cleaned, painted and have joints repaired for $73,640. The job was awarded to PR Painting.
Chadds Ford Elementary School will get a new underground water line for public water for $49,700. That work will be done by MGK Industries of Pottstown.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
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