Fairfield school board to talk budget

School board members expected to discuss the district’s projected budget deficit at retreat.

FAIRFIELD — The Fairfield Board of Education will meet for a retreat today to discuss ideas on how to move forward with the district’s projected cash budget shortfall.

“(Gov. John) Kasich is serious about no new taxes,” said Treasurer Nancy Lane in a December board meeting. “The five-year forecast ... did not include any increase or decrease from the state.”

The school board has not said whether it will put an operating levy on a 2011 ballot, but Lane is recommending that the district look at raising additional revenue.

“At this time, I don’t think we have any other choice,” Lane said.

The district is facing almost certain cutbacks from the state, as Kasich has promised to balance the budget without raising taxes. With cuts a strong possibility, Lane took another look at the financial forecast and projected what the budget would look like with state cuts of 10, 15 and 20 percent.

If state funding is cut by 10 percent for 2011-12, the district’s unreserved fund balance at the end of June 2012 would be cut by more than half — from $3.8 million to $1.5 million, Lane said. A 15 percent cut would cut that balance to $442,000, and a 20 percent cut would put the balance in the red at a negative $676,000.

“The school board has always said there will be a levy at some point. That’s how schools are funded in Ohio. As far as when it will be, when that conversation happens, the community will be part of that discussion,” read a statement released by the district this past fall.

In addition to the possible cutbacks from the state, losses in revenue from property taxes, the Duke Energy tax appeal and the health care reform act have influenced the forecasted shortfall. In the initial five-year financial forecast, Lane projected a $20 million cash budget shortfall by June 2014 and a $6.5 million shortfall in June 2013.

Board member Mark Morris said he has “lots of questions, just no answers.”

The board’s retreat is at 6 p.m. today in the Media Center at Fairfield South Elementary, 5460 Bibury Road.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5237 or kcano@coxohio.com

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