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Treasurer warns HB 96 changes could cut Lakewood City Schools' state funding by millions; board told levy likely in 2026
Summary
District treasurer briefed the Lakewood Board of Education on the final 2026–27 state budget (House Bill 96), saying phase‑in of the Fair School Funding Plan proceeded but data inputs and cash‑balance rules mean the district could lose millions in state aid and will likely seek an operating levy in May 2026.
District Treasurer Zeman told the Lakewood Board of Education on July 7 that the state biennial budget (House Bill 96) will change how the Fair School Funding Plan is applied and could reduce Lakewood City Schools' state funding by millions over the next two years.
Zeman said the governor signed HB 96 on June 30 with numerous vetoes, and the final conference‑committee language follows the senate's funding approach with some modifications. He cautioned that a combination of updated property/value input data and other formula elements could cut the district's state share of foundation funding and reduce transitional guarantees.
"The combination of the updating of the data used in the state local share calculation and the failure to update the base cost inputs led to a significant decrease in the state share for over 80% of Ohio school districts in the next biennium," Zeman told the board.…
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