Cincinnati board adopts $634.7 million FY26 budget after state aid uptick; federal Title funds temporarily held pending review

The Cincinnati Public Schools Board of Education approved the fiscal year 2026 general fund operating budget July 9, adopting a $634,682,007 revenue target and passing the annual appropriations resolution.

Treasurer Wagner and senior staff told the board that an updated state settlement and several one-time items narrowed the district’s budget gap. An increase in state-aid settlements and corrected student categorical counts contributed roughly $6 million in additional revenue; the budget also incorporated a $5 million TIF payment from the city, proceeds of $1.5 million from property sales and the use of $2.2 million from prior-year preschool cash to reach the approved target. The administration described a multistep “pathway to balance” that combined a master reduction list (about $28.9…