Fairfield Union board moves $13.9 million to capital-improvement fund after hour-long debate

The Fairfield Union Local School District Board of Education voted unanimously to approve Resolution 2025-003 authorizing transfers of district funds to capital accounts, moving $500,000 into the permanent improvement fund (003) and $13,900,000 into the capital improvement fund (070).

The vote followed nearly two hours of public board discussion about looming changes in the state budget, possible caps on allowable expenditures, and whether transfers would count toward any new statutory limits. Treasurer Mrs. Roberts and Superintendent Mr. Bellville presented the district’s current cash position, and trustees debated whether to transfer the maximum recommended under a draft ‘‘30% cap’’ scenario, wait for clearer state guidance, or schedule a special meeting to act if the conference committee released the budget sooner than anticipated.

Board members stressed the district’s desire to protect taxpayer funds while preserving flexibility. Mrs. Roberts said the district had worked for years to be “good stewards of the tax dollars” and described the transfers as a way to preserve funds for planned facility work — parking-lot repairs, track rejuvenation, LED stage-lighting retrofits and future bus purchases — without immediately returning to voters for new levies. She presented the district’s general-fund balance and noted the majority of payroll and benefits for the fiscal year were already paid.

Trustees pressed operational and legal questions. Several members, citing conversations with outside legal and accounting advisers, urged caution and proposed holding a special meeting if the final state budget included an emergency clause or language that would change how transfers are treated. Becky Princehorn, cited in the meeting as a legal adviser to whom officials had spoken, was referenced by trustees for guidance on whether transfers would be included in any statutory caps.

After discussion among board members about scheduling contingencies, the board amended the resolution document in real time to the larger transfer amounts and voted to approve it. Mrs. Conrad Zangmeister moved the resolution; Mr. Hoffman seconded. Mrs. Roberts called the roll and recorded a unanimous yes vote.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 2025-003 — Transfer $500,000 to permanent improvement (003) and $13,900,000 to capital improvement (070): moved Mrs. Conrad Zangmeister; second Mr. Hoffman; outcome: approved unanimously. - See the separate article in this package for discussion and board action on special-education contracting with Muskingum Valley ESC (approved unanimously).

The board also agreed to keep a special-meeting option open in the coming days in case state action required faster adjustments. Several trustees urged scheduling a brief “backup” meeting that could be canceled if not needed, citing the possibility that an emergency clause would make budget changes effective immediately upon the governor’s signature.

Why it matters: a large, pre-emptive transfer changes the district’s available general-fund cash balance and the legal character of those dollars. Trustees said the transfers were intended to preserve funds for capital priorities and avoid an immediate need to seek new levies; some members and staff acknowledged that if the state later alters the applicable rules, the board could move money back to the general fund but would have to document the reasons for that change.

The board’s action concluded the agenda item and will be reflected in year-end accounting and the district’s forecast. The district’s treasurer said she would circulate any new state-budget information to staff and trustees as soon as it became available.