Tiffin City Schools approves October forecast, warns Nov. 4 levy is critical to avoid deep cuts
Summary
Treasurer presented an October forecast showing the district remains solvent but vulnerable to state budget changes; trustees approved the forecast and warned that, if a proposed earned-income tax fails, roughly $3 million in cuts across departments could be required.
Tiffin City Schools trustees voted to approve the district's October financial forecast after a presentation from the treasurer outlining revenue assumptions, state budget risks and recommended next steps.
The treasurer told the board the forecast is a management tool to help identify financial risks and said state funding represents roughly 50.6% of the district's revenue while local property tax provides about 49.4%. She cautioned that provisions in the current state biennial budget, including elements of House Bill 96, could reduce local revenue and estimated one exemption provision alone could cost the district about $141,000 a year. "I strongly believe that we need to pass the proposed earned income tax in order to remain financially viable," the treasurer said.
Superintendent said the board and administration have already trimmed the budget by more than $810,000 through administrative reductions and attrition, but that the district still faces a difficult choice if voters do not approve the levy. "If we are not successful on November 4, we either have to reduce expenditures or increase revenue to get to about $3,000,000, which is just under 10% of our annual budget," the superintendent said.
Administrators outlined possible contingency steps including: scaling transportation to state-minimum distances for some grades, eliminating summer workers and overtime, raising participation fees for athletics and performing arts, and targeted staff reductions. The superintendent said preliminary contingency lists could include about 12 teacher positions and 15 educational aide positions across the district but added that any reductions governed by the collective-bargaining agreement would follow required procedures and would not violate special-education legal obligations.
To raise revenue without cutting staff, the administration proposed an activity-fee structure that would charge a first activity $500, a second $250 and a third $100 per student; staff estimated that approach could generate roughly $227,000 in the fall term and $91,000 in spring receipts. Board members emphasized that the fee would be assessed per student, not per household.
Trustees and district staff said they will continue community outreach before adopting any formal reduction plan and scheduled a public planning/discussion meeting before Oct. 27. The board will revisit reduction options if the levy fails.
