The Greater Altoona Career and Technology joint operating committee unanimously approved a preliminary budget of $12,972,471 for the 2026-27 school year.

The budget includes a total operational budget increase of 3.4% from participating school districts.

“At 3.4%, we feel that was a mindful increase for our district that serves the best interest of our students,” business manager Danielle Mehalick said after the meeting, adding that school representatives were supportive of the increase.

While the total is 3.4%, she said the percentage will vary based on a specific district’s average daily membership and subsidy population.

Mehalick presented the proposed budget on Monday night to the JOC committee, outlining the current year’s expected budget and next year’s outlook.

Mehalick said her first step in calculating a new proposed budget is evaluating the current school year’s cost in maintaining elements that the district is currently financing.

With the $300,000 increase from the state Career and Technology subsidy in the 2025-26 school year, the district budgeted $200,000 for a panel project and an additional $50,000 for computer and networking technology upgrades, she said.

However, health insurance rates are expected to undergo a significant increase of 15% next year, she said. Utility rates are also expected to rise.

To continue what GACTC is supplying now would be an expected increase of $182,000 to participating school districts, which is a member district percentage increase of 2.62%.

Recommendations also included adding an instructional assistant to the welding technology program.

“The school highly prioritizes student success, student safety,” she said. “We run some dangerous programs.”

Another recommendation involved the continuation of non-operational payments into the district’s capital reserve account for future improvements. The 2026-27 allocation of $142,848 won’t impact the operating budget, but will be based on market value and calculated separately in the non-operating budget.

Mehalick said they’re expecting increases in the non-district revenue by a $79,302 vocational subsidy, interest income and using grant funding to support half of a faculty member’s position.

She also said the post-secondary net revenue is expected to sit above this year’s budget, as the school had several vacant positions, and the ones that were filled came under budget.

The school was also recently awarded $324,847 from the state’s Supplemental Equipment Grant, she said, which will be used to purchase equipment.

The tech center currently hosts 1,100 enrolled secondary students, along with 200 post-secondary students. There are 37 secondary faculty members and about 95 regularly scheduled employees. The center teaches 25 secondary career and technical programs within its five-story building.

Mirror Staff Writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.