GLOUSTER, Ohio — The Ohio Auditor of State formally declared the Trimble Local School District to be in fiscal emergency on Tuesday, April 8.

According to the declaration, the state auditor has certified the district’s $2.9+ million deficit for this fiscal year — $1.3 million more than initially projected.

The declaration comes after the district approved more than 20 layoffs in March, effective June 30.

The fiscal emergency designation makes the district eligible for state assistance to address the deficit.

To be declared in fiscal emergency, a district must have a deficit that represents over 15% of its general fund revenue from the prior fiscal year. Trimble’s deficit this year represents 24% of its 2024 general fund revenues, according to the auditor of state.

The district will now form a financial planning and supervision commission, which may assume all or part of the powers of the board of education, and develop a financial plan for the district’s fiscal recovery.

The commission is comprised of five members, including:

The director of the Ohio Office of Budget and Management (or representative).

The director of the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.