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Treasurer reports strong cash balance; board discusses capital set‑asides and state funding risks
Summary
The treasurer reported revenues above estimates and a healthy cash balance, and the board discussed front‑loading capital transfers to meet upcoming facility projects while members and public speakers urged action on state school‑funding changes and voucher policies.
Treasurer Scott Gooding told the Big Walnut Local Schools Board of Education on May 19 that year‑to‑date revenue and financing sources were about $62.8 million versus an estimate of $62.1 million and the district’s ending cash balance at the end of April was about $49.5 million, exceeding projections by approximately $1.7 million.
Gooding said revenue performance was aided by higher interest income and tax receipts, while expenditures remained under budget. He reported year‑to‑date expenditures of roughly $47.5 million versus an estimate of $48.6 million.
Board members then discussed a multi‑year capital plan and whether to move forecasted transfers (about $4.9 million across FY26–FY28 in the current forecast) into the current fiscal year to create a set‑aside. Gooding said, as currently forecast, the district projects transfers out of $3,516,292 in FY26, $880,192 in FY27 and $480,692 in FY28—about $4.9 million over three years—and recommended moving funds to the capital projects fund to provide flexibility. Board members asked the treasurer for firm dollar recommendations and for additional facility‑planning estimates; Gooding said the district would return with numbers before the next meeting and the facilities committee will produce cost information this fall.
The meeting also included public comments about state policy. Two public speakers urged the board to oppose proposed state cuts and to act on vouchers and fair‑funding issues. Betsy Carpenter, who identified herself as an education professor and parent, asked the board to join the Vouchers Hurt Ohio lawsuit and said voucher use locally had shifted away from lower‑income families. She said, “Private school vouchers force local school districts to raise local taxes through levies.”
Ryan Winya, a parent and local organizer, criticized the board for failing to publicly oppose proposed state cuts and asked trustees to sign a letter supporting the Fair School Funding Plan and to pass a resolution calling on lawmakers to pass it. He told the board, “Your silence is an affront to district administration and staff and sends a deafening message to Big Walnut students that they don't matter.”
Gooding and Superintendent McClain described the district’s advocacy work with statewide associations and Delaware County superintendents and said they continue to monitor House Bill 96 and other budget developments. Gooding summarized the district’s advocacy priorities as including preserving the formula phase‑in, removing temporary bridge funding, maintaining guarantees until full implementation, removing a proposed 30% cash‑balance cap, and updating special education and ESC funding categories to reflect cost studies.
The board adopted the May 31 five‑year forecast resolution as required by the Ohio Department of Education; Gooding said the forecast will be updated as state budget details become available.
