August 26, 2026
From Pickerington Local School District
PICKERINGTON, OH — An updated five-year financial forecast presented to the Pickerington Local Schools (PLSD) Board of Education Monday shows the District has had to make substantial reductions to balance its budget in the near term. The forecast also shows that maintaining a balanced budget in future years requires additional, deep, reductions to student programs and services.
The updated August forecast incorporates $5.84 million in staffing reductions across three phases, updated property tax estimates, and the financial impact of a new two-year agreement with the Pickerington Education Association ratified by the Board Monday.
“The updated forecast shows that we can only balance our budget by making painful choices that reduce opportunities for students,” said Pickerington Local Schools Superintendent Dr. Charles Smialek. “We have already made major cuts that our students, families and staff are feeling right now. The forecast makes clear that without additional recurring revenue, we will face even deeper cuts in the years ahead. These cuts would dramatically alter the quality of the programming we are able to provide. Our responsibility is to be transparent with our community about the financial numbers and what those numbers mean for our students.”
To bring spending in line with available revenue, the District has already implemented Phase I reductions for the 2026–27 school year, including staffing, departmental budget and transportation reductions. These are decisions already made and actions the District is implementing that families and staff are experiencing today.
The updated forecast also incorporates the financial impact of the new collective bargaining agreement between the District and the Pickerington Education Association, effective July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2028.
Under the agreement, certified staff will receive a 1% base salary increase and a one time stipend equal to 1% of their base salary in the first year. 2026-27 marks the seventh straight school year in which certified staff will receive an increase in pay significantly less than the rate of inflation. The updated forecast incorporates the agreement within the District’s revised expenditure structure following the reductions already implemented.
“This agreement reflects the current financial constraints facing Pickerington Schools, but we cannot ignore what future cuts would mean for our kids,” emphasized Pickerington Education Association President and PLSD Teacher Brad Harris. “While staff pay continues to fall behind neighboring districts, further program reductions would undermine our schools. Securing long-term, recurring revenue is essential if we want to preserve the academic, athletic, and artistic programs that make our District strong.”
Because District revenue is projected to grow by an average of just 0.91% annually, while expenditures are projected to increase by an average of 4.51% annually from FY2027 through FY2031, maintaining a balanced budget without additional recurring revenue could require progressively deeper reductions in future years.
Projected Phase II and Phase III reductions could include:
- Further reductions in high school elective offerings
- Elimination of on-campus College Credit Plus classes
- Further reductions in the number of athletic teams
- Reductions in transportation services and bus routes
- Elimination of middle school band and orchestra
- Further reductions in world language and other elective opportunities
- Increased pay-to-participate costs
- Reductions in certain academic support services
- Further reductions to school and departmental budgets
“The short-term stability reflected in this forecast is the result of significant cost reductions and other changes reflected in the updated forecast,” said Pickerington Local Schools Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer John Walsh. “The forecast demonstrates that balancing the budget through expenditure reductions has consequences, and these consequences would affect students and staff members on a daily basis. Our revenue is projected to grow much more slowly over the long term than the cost of operating our schools. Without additional recurring revenue, we will need to continue evaluating reductions to programs and services to maintain a balanced budget.”
Adding to the financial challenge, changes in state tax law and the District’s forecast assumptions are expected to reduce annual tax collections by approximately $10.8 million through 2030.
The updated five-year forecast projects a $9.63 million net loss in FY2031, even assuming a successful income tax levy in November, demonstrating that the District will continue to face financial challenges despite the reductions already implemented and those projected in future years.
Following the defeat of the District’s 1.25% income tax levy in May, District leaders held community listening sessions to better understand residents’ concerns and priorities. A clear theme was that a smaller request would be more manageable. In response, the Board voted to place a 0.75% income tax levy on the November 3, 2026 ballot for a 10-year period.
Approval of the 0.75% levy would provide additional recurring revenue that would allow the District to eliminate or significantly reduce the need for the projected Phase II and Phase III reductions.
If the levy does not pass, the District will need to move forward with the next round of projected reductions to maintain a balanced budget.
“Our community told us clearly that the 1.25% request was too much, and we listened,” Dr. Smialek said. “The 0.75% proposal directly responds to that feedback while providing the additional recurring revenue needed to protect more of the core academic, artistic and athletic opportunities our students rely on. We recognize that asking our community for additional revenue requires trust, and that trust comes from being transparent about what we have done, what the forecast shows, what additional reductions could mean for students, and what the proposed levy would accomplish.”
The proposed 0.75% income tax levy will appear on the November 3, 2026 ballot and, if approved, will be in effect for 10 years.
About Pickerington Local Schools
Viewing the Board Business Meeting for August 24, 2026: District’s YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@