MANSFIELD — The Mansfield City School’s board of education approved the district’s treasurer’s five-year forecast Tuesday night, with the understanding the district has a lot of work ahead to be fiscally solvent.
Treasurer Robert Kuehnle’s five-year financial projection shows the district’s general fund revenues will dip in revenue from 2019 to 2024.
In 2019, Kuehnle is projecting a $62.2 million expenditure — nearly $1.8 million more than the treasurer is expecting the district to earn. In 2024, numbers predict a $69 million school budget expenditure — nearly $7.8 million more than the school will earn in revenue.
Kuehnle told the board the stagnation of the budget’s revenue is a factor beyond the district’s control.
“Ninety-five percent of our revenue comes from state funding and real estate,” Kuehnle said. “There is not a lot of growth in real estate and the state funding will remain flat for the time being.”
Kuehnle also noted the expenses are affected by 35 employees added over the year at the new alternative school and the salary raises approved by the board this past summer.
After hearing eight different plans for the new budget, the board decided to spend nearly $2 million in technology to provide students with new LCD screens and chrome books for all pupils (pre-kindergarten through senior high school) to have during the school day. The board will also use $300,000 to make renovations to Arlin Field.
“I think everyone’s input is important,” board president Renda Cline said following the nearly two-hour discussion. “We need to make the best decision for our schools and decide what is best moving forward.”
Judy Forney, the only board member with a background as a treasurer at Mount Vernon School district, reminded the board that it’s hard to predict the future and that anything can change with state funding.
