Kenton schools report $705,000 surplus, officials say levy still likely in coming years

KENTON, Ohio — Kenton Local Schools ended the fiscal year with a $705,000 surplus, Treasurer Seth said at the board’s July 14 regular meeting, a result he described as the district’s largest year-over-year percentage savings in 12 years. The board approved the district’s financial consent agenda, including the fiscal year-end report, by roll call vote.

The surplus was above the district’s forecast, Seth said: “we actually exceed the forecast by 343,000 given a reduction of expenditures,” and the district added “$705,000 overall to our cash balance.” The treasurer said salary-and-wage spending remains the district’s largest expense and that administrative costs were at 13.79 percent of the general fund.

The surplus and improved year-end cash position follow several cost-control steps, including staff alignment and building consolidation implemented in prior years, the treasurer said. He told the board the district had about $8,338,000 in cash at June 30 of the prior year and that the recent work helped avoid deficit spending.

The nut graf: the surplus buys the district time but does not remove the longer-term need to plan for an operating levy. Seth and board members said the district remains the lowest cash-balance district in the county, and the county auditor warned the district should monitor its reserves.

Board discussion and action: Trustees moved to approve financial items 9.1–9.10, which included the fiscal report and related routine financial authorizations. A motion to approve financial items was made by Dennis and seconded by Jen; the roll call recorded unanimous approval by the six board members present.

During the discussion, board members and staff emphasized that the timing of tax receipts makes cash management important: the district draws on reserves between biannual tax settlements and must maintain sufficient cash to cover payroll and operations. Seth offered to provide more detailed breakdowns to anyone who asked and said he and Superintendent Dr. Willingham meet monthly with department heads to monitor trends.

Clarifying details provided at the meeting included: a $343,000 positive variance versus forecast, administrative costs at 13.79 percent of general-fund expenditures, and a year-end cash-balance increase of about $705,000. The treasurer said the district may be able to extend the interval before asking voters for an operating levy by another several years but did not set a timeline.

The board voted to approve the financial consent items by roll call; the motion passed. The treasurer invited constituents to contact him for a line‑by‑line review of revenues and expenditures.

Less critical background: Seth said the district is watching object-level spending (salary/wages, benefits, purchased services, supplies) and uses monthly projections and department-level meetings to control costs. He framed the surplus as the result of multi-year adjustments rather than a single change.