School district approves 2% property tax hike

The New Kensington-Arnold School Board approved its final budget for the 2026-27 school year on June 2, adopting a 2% property tax increase for district property owners. The increase raises the district’s millage rate to 104.14, according to TribLive and the district’s budget page. For a home at the district’s median assessed value of $14,725, the increase works out to about $29 more a year, TribLive reported. The district also plans to use reserve money to update K-12 English, math, social studies and science curriculum materials, according to the same report. ### How much will homeowners pay under the new rate? The 104.14-mill rate is the key number in the budget approved June 2. TribLive reported that the 2% increase will add about $29 annually for a home assessed at the district median of $14,725. The 2% increase follows last year’s budget, when the district approved a 3% tax increase that brought the rate to 102.14 mills, according to earlier TribLive coverage. This year’s change adds another 2 mills to that rate. ### Why did the district raise taxes this year? TribLive reported that the tax increase is part of the district’s final budget for 2026-27 and is expected to bring in about $220,000 in additional tax revenue. The same report said district officials planned to use surplus or reserve money for curriculum updates rather than cutting programs. The New Kensington-Arnold School District’s budget page says the proposed final general fund budget was scheduled for board approval on June 2, 2026. That district posting confirms the timing of the board action tied to the final budget process. ### What will the district spend reserve money on? The curriculum update covers K-12 English, math, social studies and science, according to TribLive. The report said the district will tap reserves for that work as part of the 2026-27 spending plan. The use of reserves stands out because the district has recently approved budgets without major program reductions. In 2025, TribLive reported that the board adopted a budget with no additions or reductions to programs offered while increasing taxes by 3%. ### Where does this fit in the district’s recent budget pattern? The June 2 vote continues a run of annual tax increases in New Kensington-Arnold. TribLive reported a 3% increase for 2025-26, which took the rate to 102.14 mills, after a smaller increase the year before. The district’s public budget archive and meeting pages show that annual budget votes are part of the board’s regular spring schedule. The district’s 2026 meetings page lists general board meetings for the first Tuesday of each month, and the budget page says the 2026-27 proposed final budget was set for approval on June 2. ### What happens next for residents and the district? The 2026-27 budget approved on June 2 sets the tax rate and spending plan for the coming school year. Property owners in New Kensington and Arnold will see the new millage reflected in school tax bills tied to that budget cycle. The New Kensington-Arnold School District has posted the 2026-27 proposed final general fund budget on its website, alongside board meeting schedules and agendas. The next step for residents is the budget’s implementation for the 2026-27 school year, with curriculum purchases and other spending to follow under the plan.