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Parma schools superintendent warns of deepening budget shortfall and pushes for operating levy on Nov. 4 ballot
Summary
Dr. Hunt told Parma City Council the district faces roughly $6.4 million in combined federal and state funding reductions and declining reserves, and urged support for an operating levy on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot to avoid state intervention.
Parma City School District Superintendent Dr. Hunt briefed the Parma City Council on Oct. 6 about mounting fiscal pressures that he said threaten the district’s operations by 2027 and urged support for an operating levy on the Nov. 4 ballot.
Dr. Hunt said the district is facing a loss of about $1.3 million in Title-program funding and approximately $5.1 million in reduced state aid. Those cuts, he said, are reflected in five-year forecasts and leave the district’s cash-reserve days falling from about 123 days at the end of last year to a projected roughly 69 days this year and an estimated 24 days by 2027 if no revenue is added.
“We're not trending upward. ... In 2027 is our target — that's when the state looks at Parma City Schools and says, 'We're going to put you in some sort of a status,'” Dr. Hunt said, warning that a caution, watch or emergency designation would reduce local control.
Dr. Hunt explained the levy rationale to council members: the district’s primary mechanism to raise operating revenue is a ballot issue. He emphasized preserving local career-technical programs and said the district runs 17 career-tech programs from two high schools, a structure that avoids shifting tax burden to Parma taxpayers if students were sent to regional providers.
Council members asked how the district will use strategic plans and distinctive academic gains in levy messaging; Dr. Hunt said the strategic plan remains the district’s anchor and confirmed community outreach, including a chamber presentation scheduled for Oct. 17.
Dr. Hunt also discussed a 44-acre property the district owns and described near-term cleanup plans to remove blight and the potential for longer-term community conversations about site reuse (options might include a new school or K–8 campus, he said), noting those plans depend on the district’s ability to operate.
Next steps: Dr. Hunt said the district will finalize and file the October 15 five-year forecast and continue outreach on the levy. Council members thanked him and discussed public communication and community presentations ahead of the Nov. 4 vote.
Sources: Presentation and Q&A with Dr. Hunt during the governmental committee portion of the Oct. 6 meeting.
