Columbus – Nearly $630,000 in recommended savings could help struggling Shadyside Local School District (Belmont County) close a deficit gap, according to a performance audit released today by Auditor of State Dave Yost.   

“Shadyside Local School District is in a squeeze,” Auditor Yost said. “That’s hard and frustrating, but when times are tough, dollars must be saved wherever possible.” 

This performance audit was requested by the Ohio Department of Education after the district’s May 2014 five year forecast projected a $2.6 million deficit by the 2017-18 school year. A major reason for the projected deficit is the closure of a power plant located within the district that reduced property tax revenues by approximately $850,000 per year. 

According to the performance audit report, the Shadyside Local School District could save:

• $410,000 annually by reducing teaching staff to state minimum levels
• $137,000 annually by reducing health insurance premium costs to the regional average
• $64,000 annually by reducing sick leave severance to state minimum standards
• $22,700 annually by increasing employee health insurance contributions to the regional average 
• $15,700 annually by bringing clerical staff levels in line with its peer average
• $3,500 by selling its two spare buses

A full copy of this performance audit is available online.

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The Auditor of State’s office, one of five independently elected statewide offices in Ohio, is responsible for auditing more than 5,800 state and local government agencies.  Under the direction of Auditor Dave Yost, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies and promotes transparency in government.