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Schools’ financial outlook improves
By Mary Smith
MINERAL RIDGE
The Weathersfield Local School District’s five-year forecast through 2016 still projects a deficit at the end of five years, but the 2015 deficit is far smaller than had been expected.
Positive changes made in prior years are affecting the bottom line each year and increasing carry-over balances, district Treasurer Laurena Rouan said.
The district has been able to shave off a projected year-end shortfall for 2015 from a projected negative $1.2 million to just $39,463.
The use of all $229,000 in Ed Jobs Program funds in 2012, instead of using the money in both 2011 and 2012, is the reason for helping the bottom line, the treasurer said.
Expenditures, however, still are projected to be exceeding revenues in 2015 by $715,998.
“We’re still not out of the woods,” Rouan said, adding that more work needs to be done.
The 2016 forecast still projects a $1 million deficit, but Rouan noted that also will be subject to change as the district continues to work on ways to cut expenditures.
She noted that if a 6.6-mill bond issue is approved, it will generate $9.056 million for 30 years for the district’s portion of a $24 million Ohio School Facilities Commission project to tear down most of the middle school and go to just two buildings — the high school and Seaborn Elementary.
The treasurer noted that going to two buildings will save the district money and is expected to be completed by the start of the 2015 school year.
She also noted that though the district expected to have its state replacement of funds for loss of tangible personal property tax under House Bill 153 cut entirely after 2013, it turns out the district will continue to receive that money at a rate of $964,000 a year. The replacement funds will be $1.2 million in 2011, $1.1 million in 2012 and $964,000 in 2013.
She also noted that in both certified and classified staff, when employees retired, some were not replaced.
She said that Superintendent Damon Dohar also took on the job of special-education director, and a school psychologist was hired in-house, being shared with McDonald schools at 60 percent to 40 percent wage ratio, saving the salary paid to a Trumbull County Education Services Center employee.
The board also joined with other area school boards objecting to proposed House Bill 136, which expands the voucher program for private or parochial schools.