Brecksville‑Broadview Heights treasurer warns of deficits and legislative uncertainty; board approves forecast

Treasurer/CFO Craig Denice told the Brecksville‑Broadview Heights Board of Education on Oct. 13 that a recently completed financial forecast shows a near‑term budget shortfall and significant uncertainty from pending state legislation.

Denice presented the district's required forecast covering fiscal 2026–2030 and said the district could face a deficit of about $756,000 this year that could grow to roughly $3.2 million in fiscal 2027 if current trends hold. He warned the district's cash reserves could fall below 90 days by fiscal 2029 and to about 10 days by fiscal 2030 without additional action.

Why it matters: Local property taxes provide about 82.7% of the district's revenue, Denice said, leaving the district sensitive to changes in state law and to local economic conditions. He told the board that several bills under consideration in the Ohio legislature could reduce revenue or change levy rules, increasing the chance the district will need to seek voter approval for additional operating revenue in 2027 with collections beginning in January 2028.

Denice summarized assumptions and risks in the forecast and noted that the report is a planning tool, not a guarantee: "A financial forecast is somewhat like a painting in the future based on a snapshot of today," he said. He also described a temporary $6 million transfer tied to the campus master plan that, if reversed, would improve the district's near‑term cash position but would not remove the need for longer‑term planning.

Denice framed the fiscal picture against a backdrop of heightened legislative activity in Columbus. He listed bills under consideration or recently discussed by staff, including House Bill 96 (the fair school funding implementation), HB129, HB309, HB124, HB186, HB335 and a set of proposals labeled the Taxpayers Freedom Trilogy (introduced as HB420–HB422). He said veto number 66 had been overridden and that the legislature can act through Dec. 31, 2026, leaving timing and final impacts unclear.

Board members questioned timing and options; Denice said the district is continuing sensitivity analyses, will update the forecast as conditions change, and will submit the assumptions and required documentation to the Ohio Department of Education. The board voted unanimously, 4‑0, to approve the required forecast and the accompanying assumptions.

Next steps: Denice said the district will maintain a five‑year planning view despite statutory changes that require a shorter formal filing window. The forecast's notes and assumptions will be posted to the district website and filed with the Department of Education.