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West Geauga board reviews 2026 tax-budget forecast, warns levy renewals needed to avoid large revenue drop
Summary
Board discussed the draft 2025–26 tax budget, reviewed assessed valuation and collection assumptions, and previewed upcoming levy renewal choices that will materially affect cash reserves in later years.
The West Geauga Local School District Board of Education on Monday reviewed the district’s alternate tax budget for 2025–26 and the underlying assumptions school finance staff used to estimate property-tax revenues.
Treasury staff told the board the district is basing revenue estimates on 2024 assessed values, which staff reported at about $1.2 billion — an increase staff described as roughly $14 million from the prior assessment year. Staff said the district has historically certified a 98% collection rate and that county certification typically uses that assumption.
Board members were shown a multi‑year forecast that, with current levies in place, keeps the district near break‑even through 2026 and into 2027. The forecast also shows a substantial reduction in revenues in later years if voters do not renew two emergency levies the district currently relies on. Staff said one of the district’s emergency levies collects about $3.7 million and another about $2.35 million; the forecast displays the effect of those levies phasing out if not renewed.
Staff explained some year‑to‑year variation reflects periodic village and territory changes (the Newberry territory transfer was cited as a past cause of lower millage) and occasional one‑time collection timing differences that briefly pushed the district’s collection rate below its 98% average. The treasurer’s presentation noted the district’s effective millage (including permanent improvement levies) at about 23.98 mills.
Board members asked for clarification about the composition of the 2% of taxes not routinely collected; staff said delinquencies can include utility accounts or property owners who later bring accounts current and that the county enforces collection. The board also discussed planned transfers from the general fund into capital/PI accounts (staff said a $2 million transfer is anticipated in 2025 and an additional $1 million in 2026) and how those transfers are already reflected in the forecasted cash‑balance percentages.
Why it matters: staff and the finance committee told the board that renewing the district’s emergency levies is central to maintaining a stable 65% cash balance in 2025; without renewal the model shows a marked decline in reserves into 2028–30. The board voted to adopt the district’s alternate tax budget for 2025–26 as presented.
Board action: Resolution 16 — “to adopt the 2025, 2026 alternate tax budget” — was moved, seconded and approved by roll call.
Looking ahead: staff said the district cannot finalize projections for state school‑foundation funding for 2026 until later in the spring and that the board will see updated budget documents as additional state and local data become available.
