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Big Walnut board approves five-year forecast after debate over public meeting process
Summary
After a heated exchange over whether preparatory finance deliberations required an open-meetings notice, the Big Walnut Local Schools Board approved its revised five-year forecast on Nov. 18, 2024, with one member voting no.
The Big Walnut Local Schools Board voted Nov. 18 to adopt its updated five-year forecast after trustees debated whether internal deliberations on the numbers should have been subject to Ohio's open-meetings rules.
Treasurer Scott Gooding presented revisions to the draft forecast that reflected two material settlements since the Oct. 21 presentation: a quarterly income-tax increase (about $120,000) and a state foundation settlement decrease (about $207,000). Gooding told the board the revised figures remain within planning tolerances and that the forecast is intended as a planning tool for FY25–FY29.
Why it matters: The five-year forecast determines the district's planning assumptions for revenue and transfers to capital projects and underpins near-term decisions about facilities and budgeting. Trustees discussed both the substance of the numbers and the process used by staff and administrators to prepare the recommendation.
During debate, board member Mr. Duffy questioned whether the work that produced the forecast—including meetings between the treasurer and district staff—should have been noticed as board committee meetings under Ohio Revised Code open-meetings provisions. "If you have a group of people who are deliberating on behalf of the board, then that is a public body by definition," Mr. Duffy said during the discussion. Other trustees said the forecast had been introduced in a public session on Oct. 21 and that routine staff preparations are not usually subject to committee-notice rules.
After discussion, the board adopted the five-year forecast by roll call (Mrs. Nicks yes; Mr. Fuji yes; Mrs. graziosi yes; Mr. crra yes; Mr. Duffy no). Treasurer Gooding said staff will file the approved forecast with the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce as required by statute.
Board members said the conversation underscored community expectations for transparency even where the law may not require formal committee notices. The board did not take additional procedural action during the Nov. 18 meeting.
Next steps: The board will file the forecast with the state and continue work on capital planning and the district's five-year financial projections.
