Treasurer's Office

The district has secured approximately $3.66 million in various grant funds and approximately $1.2 million in donations since the 2018-19 school year. These donations primarily come from our parent and booster organizations, local businesses, and community members that support our schools. These efforts to bring in alternative funding helps keep the district’s future ballot issue requests at the lowest amounts needed to maintain operations.
Following its most recent annual state audit, the district received its 12th consecutive Auditor of State Award with Distinction for clean audits, a rare feat since fewer than 4% of audited entities earn this honor annually.
The Auditor of State in 2019 announced a new Star Rating System to evaluate government entities’ compliance with Ohio’s “Sunshine Laws” for open records and operational transparency. The district has earned a perfect Four-Star Rating every year the system has been in place. According to the Auditor’s website, this reflects the "Highest Achievement in Open and Transparent Government” and recognizes the implementation of at least five best practices that exceed the requirements of Ohio's Sunshine Laws.
The district maintained its Aa1 Bond Rating from Moody’s during its most recent sale of bonds authorized by voters in 2019. This is the second highest possible ranking, which puts our district among an elite group of Ohio school districts that have achieved the highest or second highest standing. Westerville City Schools moved from an Aa2 rating to its Aa1 rating in 2017. Because of this higher rating, the district is able to borrow money at lower interest rates, resulting in savings to taxpayers.

District officials used federal American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds to meet the most immediate health, safety and operational needs of the district throughout the pandemic. The money was carefully spent so any programs or services added would not place a strain on the district’s future general operating budget once ARP funds were no longer available.

District officials managed federal ARP money very wisely. These additional resources were spent on critical programs and services to support students, keep schools open, and navigate the peak of the pandemic. The vast majority of these new initiatives do not commit the district to paying for their continuation out of the general operating fund when ARP resources are no longer available. The positive impact this approach is having on the district’s overall financial health is significant. The Treasurer’s May 2020 Financial Forecast following voter approval of the 2019 operating levy indicated the district would begin deficit spending as soon as Fiscal Year 2021. However, through the wise management of its local, state and federal resources, the district has been able to delay entering deficit spending until at least Fiscal Year 2024.

Approximately three-fourths of the district’s General Fund operating budget goes into direct classroom instruction and support.
The Treasurer's Office in 2021 reinstituted its distribution of a Popular Annual Financial Report to the community as an additional means of transparency and accountability to the public.
The district’s total General Fund expenditures from FY18-FY23 increased an average of only 2.52% annually, while the national Consumer Price Index increased an average of 3.75% annually over the same time period. (FY22 & FY23 PAFR vs. BLS ANNUAL CPI)

During the height of the pandemic, district officials ensured operational transparency and kept the business of the Board of Education open to the public by livestreaming their virtual meetings until returning to a fully in-person meeting format.

The governing body of the Westerville City School District is its Board of Education. Like other governmental entities, the Board’s ability to meet and conduct necessary business was hampered by the pandemic. The Ohio Legislature afforded school districts and other governmental entities the ability to hold virtual meetings, provided the meetings were still able to be viewed by the public. The district adapted as needed and during the first half of 2021 continued live-streaming the Board’s virtual meetings over Zoom and the district’s YouTube channel. Public participation also continued virtually through the online submission of comments. After 29 meetings that were fully virtual or contained a virtual component, the Board in June of 2021 ultimately returned to conducting its business completely in person. An archive of Board of Education meeting videos is maintained on the district YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/WCSDOhio

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