At its regular meeting on Monday night, the Benjamin Logan Board of Education approved the district’s Five-Year Forecast as presented by Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Leah Baker.
The forecast outlines key financial trends, challenges, and opportunities facing the district through Fiscal Year 2029.
Among the highlights, the district is projected to end Fiscal Year 2025 with revenues exceeding expenditures, marking the first time in more than a decade that Benjamin Logan is expected to finish a fiscal year in the black.
“This was one of the school district’s goals for 2024–2025,” said Superintendent John Scheu. “Living within our means continues to be an important goal. It is significant that we are projected to end FY25 in the black after more than a decade.”
The forecast also details several financial pressures on the horizon:
- The district remains on the 20-mill floor, making long-term planning difficult due to fluctuations in property value growth.
- While the Fair School Funding Plan continues to provide stable funding under a guarantee, support is only secured through Fiscal Year 2025 and remains uncertain beyond that.
- Deficit spending is expected to begin in Fiscal Year 2028, although the district is projected to maintain a positive cash balance until that time.
- Potential property tax reforms at the state level could affect future revenue, with more clarity expected later in 2025.
- If state funding is reduced, the district may need to explore budget cuts or new levies to preserve current instructional programs.
- Windmill payments have recently begun but will be closely monitored for fiscal impact.
- A declining enrollment trend is adding additional financial strain.
- Proposed legislation includes $487 million in new state funding for private school vouchers, raising concerns about the long-term impact on public education funding.
Despite these concerns, the district remains committed to fiscal responsibility and community transparency.
Superintendent Scheu and the board thanked Treasurer Leah Baker for her work and ongoing dedication to financial stewardship.
