Treasurer's Office

The treasurer serves as the chief financial officer of the school district. In addition to working as clerk to the Board of Education, the treasurer helps in the development of the annual school budget, forecasts revenues and expenditures, collects and deposits all money, and supervises the payroll system and the disbursement of all funds.

Follow this link for 5 year forecasts and other documents.  

A MESSAGE FROM THE TREASURER - Updated Feb. 11, 2025

At the November Board of Education meeting, I presented our district’s five-year financial forecast, which the Board subsequently approved. I am pleased to report that, thanks to proactive fiscal management and the recent property tax reappraisal, Perry Local Schools has been able to delay requesting new funding from our community. However, the forecast indicates that deficit spending will continue, and addressing this challenge will require a combination of expenditure reductions and new revenue in the near future.

In recent years, the district has implemented several measures to ensure fiscal responsibility. Positions have been eliminated through attrition, and budgets have been reduced to control spending. These efforts have allowed us to postpone seeking additional financial support from the community.

The recent property tax reappraisal in Stark County resulted in a significant increase in property values, which will provide an estimated $4 million in additional annual tax revenue for the district. While this increase is a positive development, it also triggers a reduction in state funding. As property values rise, state funding decreases, and Perry Local Schools anticipates a reduction of approximately $210,000 compared to the previous fiscal year.

Despite these financial shifts, the five-year forecast projects continued deficit spending. To address this, we will
need to consider further expenditure reductions, which will likely involve staffing adjustments since salaries and
benefits account for approximately 80% of the district’s operating budget. Additionally, discussions will begin about a potential future levy to generate new revenue.

The approved five-year forecast highlights the complexity of our financial situation. While Perry Local Schools has
taken significant steps to manage its resources responsibly and benefited from increased property tax revenue, the challenges posed by state funding reductions and ongoing deficit spending must be addressed. Moving forward, the administration will continue to monitor legislative developments that may impact school funding and will engage the community in discussions about potential solutions to ensure the district’s long-term financial stability.

Jeff Bartholomew

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