Maple Heights board approves five‑year financial forecast amid enrollment drop and revenue uncertainty

The Maple Heights Board of Education on Oct. 13 voted unanimously to approve the district's five‑year financial forecast after Treasurer Sabrina Baldwin presented projections and legislative risks.

Baldwin told the board the "big story for our forecast, this October is changes in revenue," citing state funding adjustments and local tax collection issues. She said the district is roughly 62% state funded and 32% locally funded, and warned that proposals under consideration in the legislature could affect revenue flows and levy rules.

The forecast presentation identified a multi‑year decline in enrollment as a key driver of revenue loss: the district counted about 3,333 students in 2021, 2,813 in 2025, and 2,722 so far this school year. Baldwin said the projection, if current trends continue, could put enrollment near 2,300 by 2030. She told the board that projected cash balances remain positive in the five‑year view but cautioned that multiyear legislative changes could alter that outlook.

Baldwin walked the board through components of the forecast, including tax revenues, state funding changes resulting from recent biennium budget actions, and a previously over‑collected amount from the county that the district will pay back over three years. She noted that the state has altered forecast filing deadlines and that some bills under consideration would rename or change how emergency levies are treated. "They're changing emergency levies are no longer called emergency levies. They'll be called a fixed sum levy," Baldwin said. She also referenced House Bill 66 as passed and said House Bills 129 and 309 had passed the House and were awaiting further action.

The presentation included budget composition: personnel and benefits are the largest share (Baldwin said personnel costs are about 73% of general fund expenditures), projected expenditure growth near 3% and an expected drop in revenue of about 3.75% in the forecast horizon. Baldwin estimated a projected cash balance in the roughly $16 million range under current assumptions and emphasized the difficulty of five‑year forecasting.

Board members did not dissent during the discussion. A motion to approve the financial forecast was made and the board recorded the vote by roll call; all members present voted yes.

The superintendent and treasurer said staff will continue to monitor legislative developments and provide monthly updates to the board. Baldwin said the district will adjust the numbers as new state guidance and actual counts become available.

The board approved the forecast during its regular meeting at 6:02 p.m. and moved on to other agenda items.