Cincinnati board adopts FY27 budget after trustees approve updated appropriations

The Cincinnati Public Schools board voted unanimously July 13 to adopt the district's FY27 general fund operating budget and an amended appropriations resolution that reflects an updated budget target of $634,600,000. Treasurer Guston reviewed the budget and told trustees the administration has reconciled proposals and identified a remaining gap of roughly $8.7 million before additional cost-shift and revenue options.

Key points the treasurer presented to the board included a revised one-time revenue picture: negotiations on a wireless-spectrum sale revised that item from about $2.3 million to about $5.74 million, and the district expects proceeds from property sales to be available in FY27 (both are one-time items the treasurer described as low-liquidity). Treasurer Guston also recommended an immediate 2% districtwide expenditure-reduction target (about $12.7 million) and described existing contingency mechanisms—teacher allocation committee adjustments, non-personnel reclamation and contract reviews—to close the shortfall.

On transportation, the treasurer and chair of the newly formed working group said the committee will build a comprehensive budget and forecasting model and pursue cost-containment and revenue opportunities (including billing for eligible services and inter-district arrangements). Board member questions focused on how much of the budget relied on one-time revenue (the treasurer estimated roughly $66.7 million of one-time items within the target) and on establishing expected outcomes and measurable savings for committees and contract review efforts.

The motion to adopt the budget and amended appropriations was moved and seconded during the meeting and passed on a roll-call vote with all seven voting members recorded as "Yes." The treasurer noted the only numerical change in the attached resolution was to the general fund total and that state-required USAS reclassifications adjusted some line items but not the general-fund number.

Board members and the superintendent emphasized that the adopted budget still requires active oversight during the year, including monitoring the transportation working group, evaluating whether contingency grants materialize, and returning to the board with regular progress reports. The board also discussed how the FY27 budget aligns with the emerging strategic plan work and the district's levy planning.