Overly optimistic; was just one of the comments used to evaluate and describe unrealistic proposal by district treasurer William Johnson. While most of the school districts around Ohio are anticipating lower financial support from the state and federal governments, Youngstown seems oblivious to this trend. State wide rumors could be suggesting that districts should expect as much as a 10 percent reduction in state funding alone.

However, Treasure Johnson has chosen to ignore these rumors as he forged ahead with his five year financial projection presentation to the state fiscal oversight commission. The immediate reaction from Roger Nehls, chairman of the state fiscal oversight commission, said this is “probably the most optimistic five-year forecast” of any district he’s reviewed. With the YCS district fiscal year having ended on June 30, Treasurer Johnson touted that the district’s cash balance would be around $3.6 million dollars. He also projected that this balance could reach as high as $10.1 million for fiscal year 2013, despite the potential loss of state foundation funds. It’s reported that 80 percent of the district’s general-fund revenue comes from the state and that amounts to nearly $76 million in 2010.
‘Whatever happens, you’re going to have to renew your levy,’ the commission tells Johnson, referring to a four-year, 9.5-mill emergency levy approved by voters in 2009. It’s supposed to be producing about $5.3 million a year in new revenue but is providing only about $4.8 million and will expire in fiscal 2013’ (Vindy.com 2010).

Frank Bellamy, Writer
Examiner.com (Youngstown Public Schools & Education)
http://www.examiner.com/public-schools-in-youngstown/frank-bellamy