MCCSC presents two‑year financial strategy after referenda; projects savings from attrition and central‑office cuts as state tax change reduces revenue

At the May 20 meeting of the Monroe County Community School Corporation (MCCSC) Board of School Trustees, Dr. Winston and district Chief Financial Officer John Kenny presented a two‑year financial strategy that relies on natural attrition and cuts to centralized services to close a structural budget gap created by declining enrollment and recent state tax changes.

The plan projects approximately $7.7 million in annual savings from attrition and centralized cost reductions and shows improved cash‑balance projections through 2028 if those savings hold. Dr. Winston told trustees, “we are not there yet, but we are definitely moving in the right direction.”

Why this matters: MCCSC said state legislation limiting property tax revenues will reduce the district’s receipts by an estimated $15 million to $17 million. That shortfall, combined with a cumulative enrollment decline of about 830 students since COVID and rising payroll costs, prompted the two‑year strategy to align staffing and spending with available revenue.

Most important details

- Referendum spending and context: The district reported that voter‑approved referenda from 2022 and 2023 have directed roughly $22.6 million a year to approved areas including early learning, teacher/staff pay, curricular enrichment and school supplies. The 2022 referendum totaled about $36.9 million across the period cited; district leaders said about $24.6 million of that went to teachers/salaried staff and $9.9…