GIRARD, Ohio - Girard City Schools is taking a hard look at its finances as part of a new five-year forecast showing the district could lose nearly $1 million in state funding over the next several years.

Treasurer Maureen Lloyd presented the updated numbers during Monday’s special board meeting, saying a mix of declining enrollment, rising property values, and stagnant state base funding are driving the downturn.

“We are on a decline in enrollment here, so that aids into it, and there is no increase in the base cost from the state of Ohio, and the property values are increasing,” Lloyd said. “When you kind of push all that together, the state views us as getting wealthier per pupil, and we are receiving less state funding due to that.”

The five-year forecast—now reported to the state as a four-year submission—shows overall revenue slipping while costs continue to rise. Lloyd said salaries and benefits account for about 80 percent of the district’s operating budget, leaving little flexibility as expenditures grow faster than income.

“If you’re spending more than you’re bringing in, you have to look at both sides,” she said. “It could take a combination of increasing revenue and reducing expenses to balance things out.”

Lloyd emphasized that the forecast isn’t static, calling it “a working document” that can change with new enrollment numbers, levy outcomes, or state adjustments. She also noted that Girard’s goal is to stay off the state’s fiscal-watch list and maintain credibility with taxpayers.

“The important thing about a forecast is to make it credible,” Lloyd added. “If it’s not credible, then we have really nothing to stand upon.”

Superintendent Brian O’Hara said that while the financial picture is tight, the district remains committed to academics and accountability.

Girard earned an overall rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars on the latest state report card, with strong marks in graduation rates and a five-star score in college, career and military readiness — a new measure that tracks post-graduation preparation.

“We’re transparent and we’re responsible, and we’re going to continue to move forward with the spirit of our school district from the past to the present,” O’Hara said.

O’Hara added that enrollment declines are not unique to Girard but reflect a regional trend, with fewer young families moving into the Mahoning Valley. The district, he said, hopes new housing and continued academic investment will help stabilize numbers over time.

Both Lloyd and O’Hara acknowledged that proposed state legislation could make it harder for districts to place new levies on the ballot — a challenge that could further limit Girard’s ability to raise revenue locally.

Board members say they’ll continue reviewing the forecast ahead of their next filing in February and aim to balance the budget by August 2026.

Girard’s leaders maintain that transparency and communication will be key to regaining public confidence following years of scrutiny over financial oversight.