Brecksville-Broadview Heights City Schools board members said on June 25 they are watching fast-moving state budget developments after a Franklin County trial court judge ruled the state's school-voucher program unconstitutional, a decision the district joined in challenging.

The ruling, which board legislative liaison Ellen raised at the meeting, is expected to be appealed “probably twice” before reaching the Ohio Supreme Court, Ellen said, and the outcome could affect funding as the state finalizes its biennial budget by June 30. Superintendent Jeff said the district and its lobbyists are tracking several bills, including House Bill 335, and that changes under consideration could materially reduce local revenues.

The issue matters to local taxpayers and district operations because state negotiators were reported to have settled on a proposed 40% cash carryover cap in conference committee discussions. Treasurer Craig, reporting May financials, said the district currently collects more than $40,000,000 in real estate taxes but is already deficit spending this fiscal year and expects cash balances to fall. Craig said the change to a 40% cap would mean the district could be required to reduce unrestricted cash to about $20,000,000 given roughly $50,000,000 in annual expenses; he warned that lower cash reserves could mean lower bond ratings and higher interest costs when the district borrows.

Craig told the board the May report shows about $3,000,000 in receipts and roughly $4,600,000 in expenditures for the month; salaries and benefits accounted for the bulk of expenses. He also reported an unanticipated state reimbursement in June of roughly $200,000 related to special-education catastrophic/threshold claims; the district typically receives a fraction (about 36'37%) of submitted special-education costs. He said year-to-date revenues were near forecast (about 99.8%) while expenses were running slightly ahead of last year.

Board members and administrators said they are preparing to explain any state-driven reductions to residents and to coordinate with municipal leaders. Craig said the district and superintendent have already briefed local mayors and will consider broader community information efforts, including a finance committee of residents and stakeholders, if the budget changes materially.

Formal board action at the meeting included approval, by 3'0votes to 0, of final fiscal-year 2025 budget adjustments and of fiscal-year 2026 appropriations, moves Craig said were necessary to certify appropriations with the county auditor before the new fiscal year. The board also approved a set of fund-to-fund transfers totaling about $8,000,000 to address athletic fund shortfalls, campus master-plan needs and termination benefits.

The board and administration said they will continue monitoring appeals in the voucher case and any final language from the legislature and governor; they will return with communication plans and possible ballot timing only after the budget is finalized.