June 23, 2026
— Jeff Ward, Lehigh Valley News Briefs
It’s official: Easton Area School District property taxes are going up 3.5%.
That will cover the increasing cost of just about everything and some of the $298 million to build a new Easton Area High School. Next year’s EASD budget will be $223.3 million.
The 2026-27 spending plan sets the property tax at 74.7 mills. Each mill means $1 tax per $1,000 of assessed value.
Tonight’s vote was no surprise. Back in May, the board voted in favor of next year’s budget, 6 to 3.
In favor then were board President Jodi Hess, Vice President Meg Sayago, William Whitman, Josh Davis, Edward Keegan and Ghennifer Zando-Dennis.
Opposed were Michael Simonetta, Brian Snyder and Shandeka Greenfield.
The final vote tonight was also 6 to 3. I was not able to see each person vote on the video, but it sounded as if Simonetta, Snyder and Greenfield were again the three nay voters. I’ll check documents later, but that’s how I heard it.
“We have no reserves,” Simonetta said before the vote. “I don’t think this is prudent financial management.”
One district resident addressed the budget before the vote to comment on the growth in spending.
“It’s all taxpayer funding, whether it’s state money, federal money or local money,” Charles Diefenderfer of Palmer Township told the board.
Several presentations were made before the vote, perhaps to remind people of the goals of the district. The vote wasn’t held until 9:10 p.m.
The meeting was due to start at 7 p.m. but began about 15 minutes late. Board President Hess said the board met in a private session first.
Property levies are going up across the region and taxpayers are not happy. Easton’s situation is not unique although it is compounded by the capital project at the high school’s Palmer Township campus.
Prices are going up for school districts and everybody else. The national debt is hurtling toward $40 trillion and Pennsylvania’s proposed budget would wipe out more than half of the state’s reserve, so there won’t be much help from Harrisburg or Washington.
Meanwhile, some state officials talk about eliminating the property tax. That is not possible, for reasons noted in this link to an earlier post, and the costs would have to be covered by a higher sales tax and/or income tax, or new taxes we haven’t even dreamed of yet.
Meanwhile, property taxes would continue. That does not sound like a solution: higher taxes, maybe more taxes, and still a property tax covering bond payments.
Anybody claiming a plan to eliminate the tax is not being forthright.
The Easton Area School District serves the City of Easton and the townships of Palmer, Forks and Lower Mount Bethel.
Lehigh Valley News Briefs 
I’m already paying more than I can afford. If I didn’t receive a death benefit for my late Veteran husband, I wouldn’t even be living in my home. I just stopped working December 30, 2025 after 23 years with the same company. At 84, I think it’s time to lighten the burden placed on the older generation. I will have to sell my home to rent an even more expensive apartment.
Think about it…you too will become a senior citizen one day. Your own children may be raising your taxes!
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You are correct: 6-3. Simonetta, Greenfield, and myself were nay on the budget. Side note: CFO Jack Trent was not present at the meeting. I do not know the reason. [BWS]
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Thank you for confirming that.
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I would imagine the reason Jack wasn’t at the meeting is because he is busy packing up his office. How bad is the financial outlook for the district, Mr. Snyder? Trent lasted just over a year and much was said about him wanting to return to the district that educated him. What the happened? He can’t be making that much more in Allentown.
While I appreciate your no vote on the budget, I do question why fat isn’t being trimmed at 1801. There are far too many administrators even without financial problems.
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Jack Trent is/or no longer be with the EASD as of Aug. 31. He has taken a similar with the Allentown SD as CFO (as per The Moening Call) from about two weeks ago.
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What return is the taxpayer getting for tax increases every year? The district seems to be mismanaged in many areas, but one is finances. Simonetta sounded the alarm regarding spending several months ago, yet administrators are hired. Classroom teachers aren’t being replaced, but there is no shortage of administrators. Get rid of a few of them and then, maybe, paying my tax bill won’t be so painful.
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