Schools’ fiscal oversight could end soon

By Denise Dick

By DENISE DICK

denise_dick@vindy.com

youngstowN

The city schools may be nearing the end of state control over its finances.

“We’re in the district’s hands now,” said Roger Nehls, chairman of the fiscal-oversight commission, at a meeting Wednesday.

The commission needs to see the district’s response to an accounting review conducted by the state auditor’s office as well as a five-year financial forecast that shows the district will continue to be solvent for five years.

Completion of that forecast hinges on approval of a contract with teachers. Negotiations are under way.

“If everything comes together, it gives us some real opportunity at the October meeting,” Nehls said.

As a first step, the commission would certify to the state auditor that it believes the school district has met the criteria to be released from fiscal emergency, he said.

A review by the state auditor could take several months and would determine if the fiscal emergency status should be lifted.

The commission was established in November 2006 after the state auditor’s declaration of fiscal emergency after voters turned down a 9.5-mill, five-year tax levy, and the district couldn’t show how it would rid itself of a deficit.

Since then, many cuts have been made to reduce costs and balance the budget. In November 2009, voters passed a 9.5-mill school tax levy.

Superintendent Wendy Webb gave commission members a sustainability plan the district has been implementing to ensure the district’s financial solvency continues. Among its elements are biweekly reviews of the five-year forecast and development of a districtwide “check-out” system for retiring or resigning employees to make sure keys, codes and computers registered to those employees have been turned in.

“Those are all good processes,” said Paul Marshall, commission member.

Nehls said it’s important for the district to compare data from year to year, making sure numbers don’t fluctuate inexplicably.