District Finances

Deer Park Schools is proud to introduce The Wildcat Wallet, a new initiative aimed at providing the community with greater insight into school funding and financial decision-making. Beginning today, the district will release weekly updates to help parents, staff, and residents better understand how financial policies impact Deer Park students and schools.

Superintendent Jay Phillips will lead the series, joined by Treasurer Jeff Lewis, incoming Superintendent Jim Stoll, and other district leaders who play key roles in budgeting and financial planning. Each week, The Wildcat Wallet will break down important topics, including how Ohio funds public education, where tax dollars go, and the effects of policy changes such as the Fair School Funding Formula and the growing allocation of state dollars to private school vouchers.

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Did You Know?

Did you know that public school funding comes from three main sources—local, state, and federal dollars? At Deer Park Schools, over 67% of our funding comes from local property taxes, meaning the strength of our schools is directly tied to the support of our community. The Wildcat Wallet will help keep you informed about how we manage these funds to ensure the best education for our students!"  

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“Our goal is simple: to keep our community informed, engaged, and empowered to understand and advocate for the financial health of our schools,” said Superintendent Phillips. “When we all have the facts, we can make better decisions for our students, our educators, and our future.”

Updates will be shared in multiple formats, including video messages, social media posts, and written releases, ensuring accessibility for all members of the Deer Park community. The district hopes that by increasing transparency, stakeholders will be able to engage in meaningful conversations about public school funding and the financial realities shaping the future of Deer Park Schools.

To view today's first Wildcat Wallet video, please click on either the image above or the link that says "Watch Video" at the bottom of the page. To stay informed, visit deerparkcityschools.org and click the District Finance button in the "Find It Fast" section of the home page.

Our second installment of the Wildcat Wallet is here, bringing you the latest on our district’s financial outlook. While Deer Park Schools remains financially stable, we’re seeing rising costs in staffing, supplies, and maintenance, and we’re projected to end the fiscal year in deficit spending—meaning our expenses will outpace our revenue.

With 83.5% of our funding coming from local property taxes, we rely heavily on our community. And with Governor DeWine’s proposed budget suggesting potential cuts to state funding guarantees, local support will be more crucial than ever.

Despite challenges, we’re working hard to maximize resources, securing over $2.2 million in grants this past year to support student success in career coaching, high-dosage tutoring, manufacturing programs, safety, and mental health resources.

Did you know? 

The State of Ohio has calculated the average base cost of educating a typical student in Ohio at $8,280.55.

Of that cost, the State of Ohio only provides Deer Park Schools through the Fair School Funding Model with $1,416.68 – just 17% of what they say it should cost to educate a typical student.

That means our Deer Park community provides our schools with the other 83% – a total of $6,863.67 per student. Thank you, Deer Park, for supporting our students!

At Deer Park Schools, we take financial responsibility seriously. Each year, our district undergoes a rigorous independent audit to ensure we are managing taxpayer dollars effectively. For four consecutive years, we have been honored with the Auditor of State Award, recognizing our commitment to accountability and accuracy in financial reporting.

In our latest audit, Deer Park Schools received an unmodified opinion—a clean audit with no findings for recovery. While we face financial challenges, including deficit spending, we remain dedicated to careful planning and transparency.

Watch the video above to hear Treasurer Jeff Lewis explain what this means for our district. You can also review our last five audits below:

📂 Audit 2024
📂 Audit 2023
📂 Audit 2022
📂 Audit 2021
📂 Audit 2020

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📘 Did You Know?

At Deer Park Schools, our funding is divided into two important buckets – each serving a unique purpose to support our students and community.

🔵 General Fund – This is the primary source for day-to-day operations, including personnel salaries and benefits, classroom supplies, utilities, and other essential expenses that keep our schools running smoothly.

🟢 Permanent Improvement Fund – These funds are specifically set aside for upgrading and maintaining our school facilities. Whether it’s new roofs, building repairs, or technology updates, this bucket ensures our buildings are safe and modern for student learning.

🚫 Important Note: By law, funds from one bucket cannot be used to support the other. This means Permanent Improvement Funds can’t be used for salaries or classroom expenses, and General Fund dollars can’t be used for facility upgrades.

Understanding how school funding works helps us all better support Deer Park Schools. Have questions? Reach out – we're here to help!

Welcome to this week’s edition of The Wildcat Wallet, where we keep you informed on the financial side of Deer Park Schools!

In last week's episode, Superintendent Jay Phillips explained the key differences between General Fund and Permanent Improvement (PI) Accounts—two vital sources of funding that serve different purposes in our district.

This week, he continues the conversation by highlighting the impact of PI savings, specifically the $1.5 million saved from the 2018 Amity Project and how those funds have been used to improve facilities without affecting the General Fund.

Stay tuned for more updates, and as always, thank you for your support in keeping Deer Park Schools strong!

Wildcat Wallet: How Federal Funding Supports Deer Park Students

Each year, Deer Park Schools receives federal funding to support student learning, enhance programs, and provide essential services. But what does that actually mean for our students?

In this edition of Wildcat Wallet: Your Friday Finance Update, Patty Hadden, Director of Student Services, explains how funds like Title I (for reading & math support) and IDEA (for students with special needs) play a crucial role in student success. These dollars also help fund school meal programs, mental health services, and safety initiatives—but they come with strict guidelines, and they don’t cover everything.

That’s why local support remains so important in making sure our Wildcats have the resources they need!