The general fund operating budget and fall forecast was presented and approved by the Board of Education at their September 25, 2025 meeting and submitted to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
Due to legislative changes in the state’s biennial budget, forecast deadlines have shifted earlier. This fall’s forecast was due by October 15 rather than the previous deadline of November 30. Since this fall was a transition year, future and fall submissions will be due even earlier-in August. Similarly, spring forecasts are now due in February instead of May.
Revenues for the current fiscal year, FY2026 are estimated at $83.1 million—a decrease of $3.5 million, or 4.0%:
Between FY2021 and FY2025, annual revenues averaged $86.9 million with minimal growth. However, a significant change occurred in the second half of FY2025: our 2019 renewal levy expired, resulting in an annual revenue loss of $9.9 million.
This $9.9 million reduction accounts for the substantial revenue decrease in FY2026 and will continue to impact future years.
Of our total revenues of $83.1 million, only $9.5 million—or 11%—comes from the state funding formula. Nearly 78% of our total funding comes from local property taxes, which means our school district is heavily reliant on community support for operations.
The district has another renewal levy generating $8.4 million annually that expires in FY2028. Originally approved by voters in 2002, this levy's collections will cease after December 31, 2027, if not renewed.
Expenditures for the current fiscal year, FY2026 are estimated at $95.3 million—an increase of $5.5 million, or 6.2%:
These increases are driven by: additional staff needed for growing enrollment and student needs, competitive salaries, rising healthcare costs, higher utility expenses, and general inflation in goods and services.
Our District is entering a period of deficit spending, where annual expenditures will exceed revenues, requiring us to draw down cash reserves. The September 2025 forecast for the general operating fund projects FY2026 revenues of $83.1 million dollars against expenditures of $95.3 million dollars—a gap of $12.2 million.
As you see in the chart below, the gap continues to increase in each of the following fiscal years.
For fiscal year 2026, the ending cash balance is projected to be approximately $33.9 million, which represents 35.57% of expenditures.
As expenditures continue outpacing revenues, the district will deplete its cash reserves. Current projections show this deficit gap widening each year, leading to a projected cash deficit of negative $12.9 million in FY2029.
For additional details on the fall forecast and annual budget, see the following links:
