The Cincinnati Enquirer

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• The full report from the Ohio Department of Education.

The Ohio Department of Education (ODE) has released "Analysis of School District Five Year Forecasts," based on the five-year forecasts submitted by school districts to the ODE in October 2003. According to the analysis:

-35 districts are projecting negative fund balances for Fiscal Year 2004. (21 districts projected deficits in FY03 and nine districts projected deficits in FY02.)

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Today's stories: • A third of Ohio districts seeking money • A look at school issues and cost to property owners Online extras: • Gloomy forecast • Levy glossary • School tax Q&A Previous levy coverage: • State rating an issue in levy ballot • Batavia schools plan cuts • W. Clermont seeks 7.9 mills • Reading needs levy for success, educator says • Middletown schools to trim • Three Rivers seeks a levy • Levy on ballot for new Lakota school • Tax increase sought for Madeira schools • Lakota growth, deficit forces levy, $10 million cuts • Levy vote key to school planning • Edgewood to ask for 6.9-mill levy • Franklin Schools asking for help • Springboro seeks to build two new elementary schools • Mason school board starts steps for 1.8-mill bond issue • Ross to ask voters for two school levies

-80 districts show the potential for budget deficits in FY04, since they are projecting fund balances of less than 2 percent of their total revenue. (40 in FY03 and 38 in FY02.)

-50 districts are projecting deficits in FY05. (27 in FY03 and 14 in FY02.)

-78 districts are projecting deficits in FY06. (69 in FY03 and 50 in FY02.)

-At least 243 school districts could face budget deficits over the next three years. This is more than double the number of districts facing deficits in 2002 (111 districts).

-Even more districts could face budget deficits if local tax initiatives are defeated by voters.

-Three school districts needed an advance from the School District Solvency Assistance Fund to remain solvent in FY03. Most districts resolve their budget deficits through budget cuts and voter approved increases in local taxes.