West Noble finance chief warns operations fund will face pressure under property-tax caps

Andrew, chief finance, told trustees the operations fund pays custodial services, maintenance, utilities, school buses, insurance and other non-classroom costs and that it relies heavily on property-tax revenue.

He gave an estimated property-tax revenue figure for the operations fund of "$6,107,902" and said estimated total revenue for that fund is about $6.915 million versus estimated expenditures of $7.16 million for 2027, which would reduce the district's cash balance if fully spent. "So that will negatively impact the cash balance that we had," he said.

Andrew said the district will feel the effects of Senate Enrolled Act 1 and property-tax caps over time and proposed the board consider a resolution to allow an education-to-operations transfer of up to $200,000 in 2027 if necessary. He also noted a potential loss of local income-tax revenue in 2029 and said the district and municipal partners are preparing proposed legislative amendments.