The Upper Merion Area School Board is scheduled to meet Monday, Aug. 31, with several financial and legal items on the agenda — including an appraisal tied to a PECO property-tax assessment dispute and a proposed $2 million fund balance assignment for real estate tax assessment appeal refunds.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. at the Upper Merion Area Middle School Auditorium. An executive session is scheduled immediately beforehand.
PECO Property Assessment Dispute
The board is being asked to ratify a $2,500 agreement with Gohn & Company for a market-value appraisal of PECO Energy Co. property at 318 S. Henderson Road.
The appraisal covers tax years 2025, 2026 and 2027 and is connected to parcel 58-00-09982-01-3.
Documents associated with the proposal indicate the appraisal work is being completed in connection with a property-tax assessment dispute.
The public agenda does not state what assessment PECO is seeking, which party initiated the appeal or what financial impact a potential settlement could have on the school district.
$2 Million Set Aside for Assessment Appeal Refunds
A separate budget item provides a broader indication of the financial significance of property-assessment appeals to the district.
The administration is recommending that the board assign $9.8 million of its General Fund balance for several specific purposes.
That includes:
$4.6 million for retirement stabilization
$2 million for real estate tax assessment appeal refunds
$2.2 million for technology purchases
$1 million for food service stabilization
The district notes that these fund-balance assignments are consistent with those in place as of June 30, 2025 and can later be increased, reduced, removed or reallocated by board resolution.
The $2 million assignment does not mean the district expects to pay that entire amount in refunds this year. It does, however, show that real estate assessment appeals represent a significant enough financial exposure for the district to maintain a dedicated reserve.
Separate Confidential Student Settlement
The board will also consider a Confidential Settlement and Release Agreement involving the parents of student #365060.
According to the agenda, the agreement would be paid using General Fund money. The amount of the settlement is not disclosed publicly in the agenda.
The student settlement is separate from the PECO assessment matter.
Other Spending on Monday’s Agenda
The board is also scheduled to consider approximately $453,000 in school security upgrades.
That includes an $89,528 proposal from CM3 Building Solutions to upgrade access controls at the high school and a $363,573 proposal to upgrade surveillance cameras at the district’s elementary schools.
Another agenda item calls for renewing the districtwide Trapezium Math kindergarten program at a cost of $12,750.
The Upper Merion Area Spotlight will continue tracking property-tax assessment disputes involving the district as well as confidential settlement agreements that appear before the School Board.
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