Winton Woods board approves five-year forecast as officials warn cash reserves will shrink by 2029

Winton Woods City School District trustees on Monday unanimously approved a five-year forecast projecting balanced operations through fiscal 2026 but steadily shrinking cash balances thereafter.

The forecast, presented by Treasurer Michael Seymour, shows state foundation funding and real estate taxes together making up roughly 94% of revenue. The district projects roughly $25 million in unrestricted state support for fiscal 2025 but cautioned that without an increase in the state base cost the local share will rise and state support will flatten and then decline in later years.

“We were actually able to maintain pretty much a balanced budget with revenues and expenditures for ’24, ’25, and ’26,” Seymour told the board, but he added that the district will begin to “eat into those cash balances” in 2027 through 2029. The presentation translates the projected unencumbered balance into operating cash days: the district’s current projection is about 121 days this year declining toward essentially no cash days by 2029 under current assumptions.

Why it matters: The forecast is the district’s required semiannual submission to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce and sets planning assumptions for staffing, programs and capital spending. Trustees and staff said the district has used federal ESSER/ARP funds in recent years that helped stabilize operations but those funds are expiring and will not be a recurring source.

Key details from the presentation: - Revenues: State foundation funds and real estate account for most revenue. The presenter used the governor’s proposed funding assumptions (the Fair School Funding Formula) with no base-cost increase. - Expenditures: Salaries and benefits are roughly 75% of expenditures; purchased services about 20% (school contracts, special services, utilities). The forecast includes step increases and a modest cost-of-living adjustment. - Assumptions and risks: Healthcare costs were modeled at a 7.5% increase (noted as conservative), purchased services rising 5% annually, and modest interest income declines as cash balances fall. Board members and staff said consortium and plan-design work is underway to rein in healthcare increases, and acknowledged local contract choices (for example, use of community providers such as Boys & Girls Club for purchase services). - Capital and one-time items: The forecast includes bus/van purchases in selected years and moves some ARP-funded costs back into the general fund.

Board action: A motion to adopt the five-year forecast for fiscal years 2025–2029 passed unanimously. The board asked for clarification on assumptions such as the healthcare cost projection, and staff said negotiations and plan-design changes are in progress with district and employee representatives.

Next steps: Treasurer Seymour warned that pending state legislation (House Bill 96 was mentioned by staff as a possibility to change forecasting rules) could require a revised forecast. The board indicated it may revisit the numbers if state action changes assumptions.

Ending: Trustees said the forecast will be used to guide budget work this summer and called out the main levers—state funding, healthcare costs and purchased services—where policy or negotiations could alter the fiscal trajectory.