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Board and staff raise alarm over House budget language that would cap cash balances at 30%; vow outreach to legislators
Summary
Trustees and finance staff raised concerns about language in the House version of the state budget that would limit districts’ carryover cash balances to a maximum cited in the presentation as about 30%, and they discussed coordinated outreach to legislators and the community.
Board members and staff reviewed the House version of the Ohio biennial budget and said its language — as discussed during the meeting — threatens to limit districts’ flexibility by imposing a 30% maximum on carryover cash balances. Trustees and staff said that a hard maximum of that type could force districts to return to voters more frequently and disrupt local budgeting practices.
A district finance staff member summarized the immediate implication: "If this 30% maximum that they have in their version would mean that we could only carry over $31,200,000. That means over the next two years the county budget commission could reduce $13.6 million from us," the staff member said, describing how a cap could interact with county and state procedures. Meeting participants framed the proposed language as a high‑stakes fiscal change that would require coordinated advocacy.
The board discussed advocacy steps: individual board members and staff agreed to contact legislators and asked staff to prepare communications the community could use (letters, talking points, and social‑media content). Trustees suggested mobilizing parent‑teacher organizations, alumni and other community groups to share personal stories about school services and the local impacts of state policy.
Staff said they would provide sample materials and that the superintendent, treasurer and board members would coordinate outreach. The board asked staff to consider a resolution or formal letter from the board if grassroots outreach does not suffice. Staff also referenced recent county treasurer/auditor briefings and recommended both direct legislator contact and public education for local households explaining how a cash‑balance cap would affect local levy cycles and tax bills.
Ending: Trustees directed staff to provide talking points and templates for outreach, to schedule follow‑up advocacy steps and to return with any statutory text or official guidance that changes the fiscal picture. No formal board resolution was adopted during the retreat.
