Board hears warning that governor’s budget and House Bill 96 could cut Lakewood City Schools funding, trigger 60% capacity rule

At the Lakewood City Schools Board of Education meeting on Feb. 25, Treasurer Ken Zeman warned that provisions in the governor’s proposed biennial budget, currently in the Ohio House as part of House Bill 96, would reduce Lakewood’s state funding guarantee and add restrictions that would cut the district’s discretion over spending.

Zeman told the board the proposal would reduce the district’s guarantee by 5% in fiscal year 2026 and another 5% in fiscal year 2027. “That would be approximately $700,000 for next school year and then an additional $800,000 in FY ’27,” Zeman said, calling the combined effect “about $1,500,000 going forward.”

The treasurer framed the changes as part of a larger shift in state support. He said Ohio now provides, on average, about 42% of K–12 funding; under the governor’s proposal that average would fall to about 35%. Lakewood, a guaranteed district, currently receives roughly $17 million from the state and — Zeman said — could see that figure fall to…