Worthington board adopts $270 million budget package, approves transfers and fee schedule

The Worthington Schools Board of Education on June 24 approved a package of financial measures including year-end transfers and advances, the final fiscal year 2024 appropriations resolution, initial fiscal year 2025 appropriations and the FY25 fee schedule, Treasurer TJ Cusick told the board during a budget presentation and vote sequence.

The presentation and votes were part of a broader overview of the district’s budgeting process, which Cusick described as cyclical: tax budgets to Franklin County are prepared in January, the board adopts rates in March after the county budget commission, capital projects are planned and often bid in May, and the board adopts the official budget in June. Cusick said the board was being asked to approve a total budget package of about $270 million, with the general fund making up the majority of that total.

“On the left hand side, you see what… is on the agenda for the board to approve,” Cusick told trustees while walking through the budget book. He explained three accounting bases—cash, budgetary and full accrual—and said the board was voting on the budgetary basis tonight because it includes encumbrances such as open purchase orders. Cusick also highlighted that the $270 million total includes 27 other funds grouped into categories such as bond retirement, capital projects and special revenue funds.

Why it matters: the approved appropriations and transfers set legally required spending limits and allow the district to pay encumbered contracts (such as summer construction) and to receive and expend restricted grant funds. The votes also finalize the fee schedule the district will use in FY25 and remove the prior consumable classroom fee.

Most important facts and outcomes - The board approved year-end transfers and advances as presented (agenda item f1). The motion passed with affirmatives recorded from Board Members Amber Eppling Skinner, Stephanie Harless, Nikki Hudson, Jennifer Best and Kelly Davis. (Transcript vote recorded under f1.) - The board approved the final fiscal year 2024 appropriations resolution (f2) and the initial fiscal year 2025 appropriations resolution (f3). Recorded votes shown in the transcript for these motions were affirmative. (f2 and f3 passed.) - The board approved the FY25 fee schedule (f4); the adopted schedule excludes the consumable classroom fees that the board discussed earlier this year. The motion passed with unanimous recorded affirmation. (f4 passed.) - The board approved the consent agenda (items G2–G12) and several other business items including donations (H1) and an easement agreement with Columbia Gas for Worthington Kilborn High School (H2). These motions were recorded as carried in the transcript.

Supporting details and context - Budget totals and fund structure: Cusick said the general fund accounts for the bulk of the budget (the transcript cites a large general fund amount; the entire package for approval was presented as roughly $270,000,000). He described two capital-project funds (bond proceeds for the high‑school construction and a permanent improvement levy passed in 2022) and a set of special revenue funds (about 22 accounts totaling roughly $15,000,000, led by food service and federal grants such as IDEA and Title I). - Encumbrances and timing: Cusick used the example of WACC improvements being encumbered in the prior fiscal year (contract authority required before work begins) to explain why budgetary- and cash-basis numbers can differ. - Building allocations: the board uses a per‑pupil base allocation for building discretionary budgets—Cusick cited flat-dollar amounts per student ($90 elementary, $88 middle, $98 high school) plus weights for special education, English learners and economically disadvantaged students (weights in the transcript ranged from $38 to $48 per qualifying category). - Bond funds and carryover: Cusick described the $234,000,020.22 bond issue for construction, noting most proceeds are already spent or encumbered on contracts; he said roughly $6 million remains tied to soft costs/contingency and another $17 million remains for other projects. - COVID relief and special revenue timing: Cusick and board members said roughly $13 million in COVID-relief funding increased special revenue funds over the prior three years and that those funds will be fully spent by September. In the discussion a board member and the treasurer cited remaining COVID-related balances (transcript references $2,293,000 and the board stated remaining funds will be spent by September). Trustees said COVID dollars were largely used for Chromebook purchases and summer/safety programs. - Food service outlook: Cusick projected a FY25 food-service deficit of about $1,100,000 on a return to normal operations, and said about $600,000 of that is related to capital outlay planned to enhance kitchen operations during construction; he said an operating deficit could be roughly $500,000 and that the district can absorb that while monitoring options such as meal-price adjustments. - Investments and earnings: Cusick explained statutory restrictions on public investments (treasuries, agencies, high-rated commercial paper and collateralized bank deposits) and said the district has seen higher short-term yields. He characterized investment policy goals as “liquidity and safety.” During discussion Cusick said, “I think we made close to $9,000,000 this year… in the general fund,” and also noted earnings on bond proceeds; he prefaced the $9,000,000 amount with “I think” and “don’t quote me on that,” indicating an approximate figure from the transcript.

Discussion vs. direction vs. decisions - Discussion: Cusick and trustees discussed the accounting bases, building allocation method, grant restrictions (supplement-not-supplant for federal grants), the capital projects schedule, bond proceeds, COVID-relief sunsets, and the food-service projection. Trustees asked clarifying questions about timing for levy planning and about what building discretionary funds should cover (instructional consumables vs. PTA-funded items). - Direction/assignment: Trustees asked for continued oversight and possible deep dives into efficiencies beginning in January–March if the board wants to influence levy timing or budget direction; no formal board direction beyond requesting continued analysis was recorded in the transcript. - Formal actions: The transcript records motions and votes approving transfers and advances (f1), final FY24 appropriations (f2), initial FY25 appropriations (f3), the FY25 fee schedule excluding consumable classroom fees (f4), the consent agenda (G2–G12), donations (H1), an easement with Columbia Gas (H2) and membership in the Ohio Coalition for Equity and Adequacy of School Funding. Each of those motions is recorded in the actions section below.

Ending Board members praised staff for keeping operations under budget on a cash basis, and trustees discussed timing and next steps for possible efficiency reviews and levy planning. The board scheduled a possible special meeting for July 10 to approve contracts and noted the regular July 22 meeting date.