Board adopts five‑year forecast and urges lawmakers to reject House Bill 96 cash‑cap proposal
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Summary
The Brunswick Board of Education approved a five‑year financial forecast May 20 and unanimously passed a resolution opposing House Bill 96’s proposed 30% cash‑balance cap, which district officials say could remove roughly $20 million in local funding in a single year and sharply reduce district reserves.
The Brunswick Board of Education approved a five‑year financial forecast and unanimously adopted a resolution opposing a state proposal that would cap school district cash reserves, board members said at the May 20 meeting.
Treasurer Mark presented the May update to the district’s five‑year forecast and warned trustees that language in House Bill 96 could reduce Brunswick’s revenue by about $20,000,000 in a single year if enacted, a change he said would sharply erode the district’s cash reserves. “We will be reduced by over $20,000,000 in this district in 1 year,” Mark said during the presentation.
The board voted to adopt the May 2025 version of the five‑year forecast on a unanimous roll call. The motion to adopt the forecast was made by Missus Mullen and seconded by Missus Gessler; each trustee present voted “aye.”
Nut graf: Why this matters — The forecast is the district’s principal planning tool for operating revenues and expenditures; it shows expected revenues, planned spending and projected cash on hand through fiscal 2029. Mark told trustees the district’s bottom line under current assumptions remains above the board’s 90‑day minimum cash policy through the forecast window, but that the House Bill 96 proposal — which would limit cash carryover to a percentage threshold and give county authorities power to enforce reductions — would reduce Brunswick’s days‑cash on hand from about 190 days down toward roughly 24 days over the forecast period, staff said.
Key details from the presentation and subsequent board discussion:
- Forecast adoption: The board approved the May 2025 five‑year forecast (fiscal 2025–2029); the motion was moved by Missus Mullen and seconded by Missus Gessler and passed on a unanimous roll call (all five trustees voting “aye”).
- Current projections: Mark presented the district’s estimated ending cash balance in the forecast (about $31 million at the end of the five‑year window under the stated assumptions) and showed the district’s days‑cash on hand declining from an estimated 190 days in the current year to roughly 110 days by the end of the forecast under baseline assumptions. The board’s minimum cash‑balance policy is 90 days.
- House Bill 96 impact: Under the version of House Bill 96 discussed at the meeting, the state would limit districts’ cash carryover to a percentage (the house version cited a 30% cap), and county boards could be empowered to force reductions. Mark showed a scenario in which Brunswick would lose more than $20 million in local funds in a single year and highlighted the potential for that reduction to “cripple” district operations.
- Timeline and advocacy: Presenters said the legislature was expected to complete the budget process by July 1, and trustees described ongoing outreach: the superintendent, treasurer and board members have met with area legislators and with statewide groups to press district concerns. The district is also using superintendent emails and other communications to encourage constituents to contact lawmakers.
- Board resolution: Following the forecast discussion, the board unanimously passed a resolution urging the Ohio legislature and governor to preserve local school boards’ authority over tax rates and cash balances and to oppose provisions in House Bill 96 that would set arbitrary cash‑carryover limits. The resolution was read into the record by Missus Mullen and passed on a unanimous voice/roll call vote.
Board and staff comments highlighted political and operational uncertainty. Mark said some legal challenges could be possible, but emphasized that the district must continue to operate during any legal or legislative process and that a sudden revenue reduction would force difficult choices. Trustees asked about the practical effects on taxpayers and about the district’s contingency planning, and the superintendent and treasurer said they would provide updates and, if required, bring additional forecasts or special meetings back to the board.
Ending: Trustees told residents they would continue to monitor the budget process in Columbus, inform the community of developments and return to the board with updated forecasts or action items as needed.
