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Stow‑Munroe Falls board approves final FY2025 and FY2026 appropriations and OKs transfers to cover athletics and Field House shortfalls
Summary
At a June 30 special meeting the Stow‑Munroe Falls City School District Board approved final FY2025 appropriations and FY2026 permanent appropriations and authorized transfers totaling two separate relief amounts — $150,037.12 to Athletics and $175,749.78 to the Field House — to cover negative fund balances.
The Stow‑Munroe Falls City School District Board of Education on June 30 adopted final appropriations for FY2025 and permanent appropriations for FY2026 and voted to transfer funds from the General Fund to make two activity funds whole.
Patrick Gallano, who presented the budget items, said the final‑appropriations figures reflect the maximum the district may spend in each fund and are shown at the fund level. He recommended approval of FY2025 final appropriations and the FY2026 permanent appropriations, which the board approved on roll call unanimously.
Gallano then asked the board to approve transfers to eliminate negative year‑end balances in two funds: $150,037.12 into the district’s athletics account (a district‑managed student‑activities 300‑series fund) and $175,749.78 into the Field House recreational fund. “What this is showing is that the 309,235 fund special cost center spent more than it brought in,” Gallano said, describing the transfers as actions to “make them whole.”
Board members questioned the size of the athletics shortfall and asked whether it indicated overspending. “That seems like a pretty big number,” one member said. Gallano replied that 300‑series accounts commonly show deficits because many athletics activities spend more than they bring in and that separating those costs offers a clearer view of true athletics costs. He described contributors such as off‑schedule uniform purchases, rising officials’ fees and supplemental pay lines, and said the finance office would provide five years of trend data and athletic budget detail at a future meeting.
About the Field House, Gallano said the facility began with a $0 operating balance after construction paid from permanent‑improvement funds; operating costs this year (on‑site staff salaries and benefits, custodial obligations under contract, utilities, cleaning and filters, and other supplies and repairs) exceeded rental revenue, producing the $175,749.78 deficit.
The motion to approve the transfer request passed on roll call with four ayes and one no. According to the roll call, East Jenkins, Merlitti, Sheehan, Sue Donnick and Wind were recorded for votes on agenda items; on the transfer vote one member voted no (Mr. Sheehan).
The board discussed options to reduce future deficits — from booster support and fundraising to potential pay‑to‑participate programs and fee reviews — and Gallano said the finance committee will revisit fees in the coming fiscal year.
The board also voted earlier in the meeting to proceed with FY2025 final appropriations and FY2026 permanent appropriations; those motions passed on roll call.
