Piqua Board of Education reviews five-year forecast

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PIQUA — The Piqua City School District Board of Education met Thursday, May 19 for their regular monthly meeting.

The meeting opened with a review of Treasurer Jeremie Hittle’s five-year forecast. Originally presented in November, the projections were 98.68% on target for revenue and 94.9% for expenses from November to May. This bodes well for long term projections, which show a positive cash balance into 2026.

“We’re now sitting in the second year of this. When you’re sitting in my seat the question is, what is going to happen in the next state budget,” said Hittle in reference to the governor’s election and the proposed “Backpack Bill”.

The Backpack Bill is House Bill 290 proposed by Republican Representatives Riordan McClain and Marilyn John in the Ohio State Legislature. The bill would allow state funding to follow students to whichever school their parents choose, expanding the voucher program in Ohio. This could cause funding for public schools to fall as parents choose to send students to private institutions.

In the case of Piqua, this could cause a drop in the nearly $3 million in state funding the district expects to receive throughout the course of the five-year forecast period.

“That is something we will have to stay vigilant to,” said Hittle.

In the Treasurer’s Agenda, he also noted that 180 days’ worth of operation expenses will be always held as cash reserves and delineated a fund-to-fund transfer to finish High School renovations this summer.

The agenda was approved by a vote of 4-0.

The Superintendent’s Report was used to highlight the achievements and events at schools in the district. Highlights included the Piqua High School Men’s Track Team being crowned conference champions for the first time since 1973 and the High School’s new Esports program getting set to begin in the fall.

In the Superintendent’s Agenda, which was approved unanimously, the board accepted donations and grants to the sum of $7,439.77. The issuance of diplomas to upcoming Piqua High School Graduates was also approved.

No new or old business was heard. The board adjourned to executive session, and no further action was taken. The next board meeting takes place on Thursday, June 23, at 6 p.m. at the Board of Education Office in Piqua.

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