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CPS board approved $634.7 million FY26 general-fund budget in July; officials warn state and federal changes remain risks
Summary
Cincinnati Public Schools finalized a $634.7 million FY26 general fund operating budget on July 9; district leaders told the joint meeting that state budget changes and delayed federal allocations pose ongoing fiscal uncertainty.
Cincinnati Public Schools approved a $634,700,000 general-fund operating budget for fiscal year 2026 on July 9, the district’s treasurer reported, while district and city officials said recent state budget decisions and temporarily withheld federal grant funds created planning uncertainty ahead of the school year.
Jen Wagner, chief fiscal officer (noting she will depart the district), said the FY26 budget was the result of negotiations with the board, administration and union partners and closed a roughly $51 million gap. Wagner said that despite difficult cuts, the district prioritized funding for its strategic plan and growth goals.
Wagner and other district officials reviewed state-level changes linked to the Fair School Funding Plan. The district said the state budget kept the plan’s framework but did not update all inputs, and that the district faced an approximate $3 million reduction from earlier projections. Wagner said enrollment growth late in the fiscal year partially offset the impact.
Officials also discussed federal Title II, Title III and Title IV allocations, which the state paused on June 30 and released July 25; the district said it expected final allocations to be posted soon and that the state extended grant periods through Sept. 30 to avoid immediate service disruption. District staff said they had prepared contingency plans for multiple funding scenarios while awaiting final federal allocations.
The meeting included discussion of possible state-level changes to how local levies (fixed-sum levies) are handled; Wagner said an override of a gubernatorial veto could limit districts’ ability to use fixed-sum levies in the future and that a state property-tax reform working group plans proposals by Sept. 30.
Ending: Board and council members said they plan follow-up briefings this fall to coordinate advocacy and to review recommendations tied to property-tax reform and state budget proposals.
