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Monroe Local treasurer warns of $4.8 million hit from property-tax changes; board calls for public education
Summary
Treasurer Miss Moore told the Monroe Local School Board the district's February forecast shows an estimated $4.8 million loss through 2030 from recent property-tax reforms, prompting calls from board members for greater public outreach and coordination with neighboring districts.
Miss Moore, the district treasurer, told the Monroe Local School Board on Feb. 23 that the district's February fiscal forecast shows a projected loss of about $4,800,000 through 2030 tied to recent property-tax reforms and related legislative activity. The board accepted the treasurer's consent agenda and heard the forecast during the regular meeting.
Why it matters: the treasurer's modeling shows that changes to how local property-tax millage is calculated and potential further reforms would reduce the district's property-tax revenue over the coming years and could push the district into a spending deficit around 2028 unless managed. The forecast combines the district's revenues, existing fund balance and projected expenditures and incorporates known legislative changes to date.
What the treasurer said: Miss Moore summarized the forecast and explained the modeling tool the district uses. "That it will we will lose at this time over $4,800,000 through 2030," she said, describing the district's projected cumulative shortfall based on current law and rule changes. She noted the February update showed little change from the prior tax-budget work for FY26 but highlighted that multi-year outlooks are sensitive to real-estate settlement data that arrive in March or April.
Board response and next steps: board members urged public education and coalition-building. One board member suggested organizing regional information sessions and producing an FAQ to help parents and taxpayers understand the ramifications of proposed state changes. The board discussed inviting state taxation representatives to speak and agreed outreach to neighboring districts (for scale and shared messaging) would be helpful. Miss Moore said she expects to run another forecast update after the real-estate settlements are received.
Budget context and caveats: the treasurer noted the model shows declines to both 'inside' and 'outside' millage under the reform steps discussed and explained that the Fair School Funding phase-in ends in 2027, after which state funding increases that had helped districts will no longer continue. She emphasized the forecast's sensitivity to legislative changes and real-estate settlement timing.
What the board approved: the board approved the treasurer's consent agenda (which included the forecast update overview, minutes, donations and a safety grant acceptance). The roll call recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried. Miss Moore said the district will continue monitoring and will return with detailed appropriation amendments and further forecasts as new data arrive.
Outlook: board members framed the near-term outlook as manageable for FY26 but warned that cumulative losses and the phase-out of state funding increases could require future decisions about expenditures, use of reserves and capital priorities. The board asked staff to consider fall public "state of the finances" outreach and to draft clear talking points for constituents.
Bottom line: the treasurer's forecast flags a multi-year revenue pressure tied to property-tax reform that the board said they will address through outreach, intergovernmental coordination and follow-up budgeting work.
