Northern Lehigh School District could receive nearly $500,000 in additional funding through Gov. Josh Shapiro’s proposed 2026-27 budget.

District Business Manager Sheri Molitoris announced at Monday’s school board meeting that last week district officials gathered to watch Shapiro’s proposed spending plan budget.

“The proposal continues investments in public education by advancing adequacy and equity through increased basic and special ed funding while strengthening student support services and school safety,” Molitoris said. “It also maintains Ready to Learn funding, expands mental health and safety initiatives through the PCCD (Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency), and continues Tax Equity Funding to address long-standing disparities across Pennsylvania.

For Northern Lehigh, Molitoris said the proposed budget includes:

• An increase in basic education funding of $372,772.

• $76,287 in special education.

• Sets its Ready to Learn block grant at $372,616.

• An additional $25,992 in Ready to Learn Adequacy funding.

• $24,008 in Tax Equity funding.

Molitoris said that overall, the district is probably close to $500,000 in additional new moneys in the governor’s budget.

However, she cautioned the figures are preliminary estimates and amounts may change as the budget moves through the legislature process.

“I am currently working on the 2026-2027 budget,” Molitoris said. “We will budget some of these increases in, but not to the max for fear that we don’t get everything.”

Director Donna Kulp asked if those numbers are based on what the district got this year from the state.

Molitoris said this is what Shapiro is proposing in addition to what the district received this year.