West Geauga board approves 5-year forecast update, moves $18.6 million into capital reserves

The West Geauga Local Schools Board of Education on Monday approved an updated five-year forecast and created a second capital projects fund, authorizing an $18.6 million transfer into capital reserves to cover planned repairs and long-term building projects.

The action, approved unanimously by the board, establishes a dedicated capital account and sets aside roughly $6 million of the transfer for middle school renovations, the district’s treasurer identified during the meeting.

The forecast update and the fund transfer come as the district works through competing pressures: flat or reduced increases in state aid under the current House budget proposals, rising operating costs and an anticipated increase in property valuations in 2026. Finance staff said the district expects revenues to grow modestly (about 1.8 percent) while expenditures are projected to rise faster (about 5.7 percent), driven largely by wages, benefits and inflation on supplies and services.

School finance staff presented the assumptions behind the forecast and a multi-year capital plan the board approved. The plan lists near-term projects already contracted (roofs, lighting and doors), medium-term priorities such as roofing across multiple buildings (an estimate of about $8.5 million was…