Youngstown school board wants clear picture of its finances

YOUNGSTOWN — The city school board is looking for a clear picture of the school district’s finances.

Board members tonight expressed concern and some confusion over Youngstown’s financial status, citing conflicting comments from the state fiscal oversight commission which controls district spending while Youngstown is in state-mandated fiscal emergency and the state auditor's office.

The oversight commission says Youngstown’s five-year financial forecast is too optimistic, yet the Ohio auditor’s own version of that forecast is in line with the one presented by William Johnson, district treasurer, said Anthony Catale, school board president.

Compounding the issue is a state Academic Distress Commission’s proposed academic recovery plan designed to get Youngstown out of state-rated academic emergency. That open-ended plan has an annual price tag that could reach $4 million.

For the complete story, see Wednesday's Vindicator and Vindy.com