Local school district in financial need approves budget cuts pending state approval

MOUNT HEALTHY, Ohio (WKRC) – The Mount Healthy School District is struggling with its financial future.

Earlier this year, Ohio’s auditor declared the district in a financial emergency, prompting district leaders to create a recovery plan.

Just last week, voters rejected the district’s proposed levy. At a school board meeting on Tuesday, several proposed cuts were approved, pending state approval.

These cuts include a $100,000 reduction in the athletics budget and a $150,000 reduction by eliminating non-local professional development. Next school year, the district plans to switch to minimal state transportation, a move expected to save $1.3 million annually. A salary freeze, including pension and Medicare, is also on the table. The district has already eliminated 130 positions.

Despite these measures, the district still faces a daily cash flow shortfall of $6 million in May.

‘Does something need to be done? Yes.’ Interim Treasurer Robert Hancock said. “Unless someone has made $6 million in cuts or revenue improvements that we don’t know about, something is going to have to happen this year, and we will continue that process.”

The details of further actions were not discussed during the meeting.

Joe Ohradzansky, vice president of the Mount Healthy Teachers Association and a teacher in the district, expressed concern.

“Right now it’s hard. Larger classrooms, we have so much on our plate, and there’s so much concern; there’s so much concern about what’s next,” Ohradzansky said. “Where will we be in a month, the end of the school year, next year?”

Ohio’s Financial Planning and Supervision Commission must approve the proposed cuts before they become official, but the district expects approval. The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for December 9.