Five Year Financial Forecast

FHSD's Financial Forecast Report is a planning document that helps with fiscal management and accountability by showing historical and projected revenue and expenses. The forecast requires district management to evaluate potential long-term outcomes when making current financial decisions regarding new programs and funding existing programs.

Due to the most recent state biennial budget bill, the way school districts in Ohio report financial projections is changing beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. While the projection was previously called the Five-Year Forecast and was released in November and May, the first iteration will be released earlier in the school year and will follow a modified format based on state requirements.

In a financial forecast, the numbers only tell a part of the story. For the numbers to be meaningful, the reader must review and consider the underlying footnotes and explanations before drawing conclusions or using the data as a basis for other calculations. The footnotes are very important to understanding the rationale of the numbers, particularly when a significant increase or decrease is reflected.

• Financial Forecast Report (ending in 2030)
• Video of Treasurer Cropper's Presentation to the Board of Education
• How to Read a Financial Forecast (tips and explanations on understanding a school district's forecast from the Ohio Department of Education)
• Ohio Department of Education and Workforce Forecast Submission Webpage
• Hamilton County School Districts Comparable Financial Statistics (Updated Jan. 2025)

PURPOSES OF THE FINANCIAL FORECAST REPORT

There are at least three purposes or objectives of the financial forecast:

1. To engage the local board of education and the community in long range planning and discussions of financial issues facing the school district

2. To identify future year’s deficit to allow districts to engage in planning for those conditions prior to their arrival and eliminate projected deficit

3. To provide a method for the Department of Education and Auditor of State to identify schools districts with potential financial problems