Treasurer warns district is continuing multi-year deficit spending: 'Weare in trouble'

Jill Adams, the district treasurer, presented the August financial forecast required by Ohio law and explained why the August deadline provides only a snapshot. Adams said the forecast is the baseline the district will submit to the Ohio Department of Education and that assumptions in the packet explain line-by-line inputs.

Adams warned the board the district remains in a fiscal recovery plan and is projected to continue deficit spending that began in fiscal year 2024: "We started this deficit spending in fiscal year 24," she said, noting the carryover of positions paid with ESSER dollars as a major factor. When asked to sum the situation in three words, Adams replied, "I would say we're in trouble." She added the district cut its deficit by about $2,000,000 last year but still projects a fund-balance at the end of fiscal year 2029 of approximately $1,149,000 (roughly one payroll). Adams also said the district continues to track encumbrances and purchase orders to improve cash flow.

Adams reviewed state-level context, referencing House Bill 96 and ongoing state budget and county budget commission activity; she said a $953,706 annual reduction in supplemental targeted assistance remains a material multi-year impact. The treasurer read a cumulative figure reported in the packet as a large life-of-forecast number; the transcript records the amount as stated by the treasurer, and the district did not provide an immediate clarification in the meeting record about whether that figure contained transcription formatting or typographical issues.