The way in which the forecast was presented, however, sparked some debate between board members during a special meeting Monday evening at the Worthington Education Center.

Board member Marc Schare said he could see "a lot to like" in the new forecast.

"Expenses out of the general fund this year will be fairly flat -- a remarkable achievement given average salary increases of 5.15 percent to certified staff and 5.4 percent to classified staff," Schare said. "Another surprise is that the general fund balance, even including the new contingency we will add, is positive clear through the 2009-10 fiscal year. This implies that it may be possible to delay an operating levy all the way out until 2008.

"I'm in no way suggesting that is the right thing to do, only that this new forecast suggests it is possible," Schare said.

The forecast shows a total of all actual revenues for fiscal year 2005-06 of $111,570,126, with total expenditures at $103,998.613. After accounts payable and cash reserves are taken out, the ending available general fund balance is $12,204,614.

The forecast projects revenue and expenses until fiscal year 2010-11. Even without levy or bond issue funds figured in, the budget does not show a deficit until fiscal year 2009-10, when the deficit would be about $12.6 million.

Board members said they liked the numbers, but didn't like the timing. They were being asked to approve the forecast just one day before the treasurer's deadline to submit it to state officials.

"I didn't like the thought we barely had 10 minutes to approve it,' David Bressman said. "I would have been more comfortable if we had had more time to look it over and for the public to look it over. I think if we're going to talk about public engagement, we need to do it."

"Ideally, the forecast we approve would be the result of a process that included input by the Treasurer's Advisory Committee and intense scrutiny by the board of education and the public," Schare said. "With no ability to make changes before the statutory deadline, either by the Treasurer's Advisory or the finance committee, it appears the administration is expecting this forecast to be rubber-stamped."

Schare proposed that the advisory committee meet again in November to discuss the forecast, which could then be approved in December.

"It is my hope that each of us affirms to the community our commitment for budgetary scrutiny and public involvement," Schare said.

Jennifer Best called the forecast a "work in progress."

"The outcome of the bond issue could change the numbers, and I would also like to get more public input," Best said. "We have a group of community members who make up the advisory committee who have been looking at different ways to do our forecast, and we were hoping to tighten up the forecast a little to make sure the numbers were more accurate farther down the years."

Boyd said some of the changes suggested by the committee were made, including a contingency fund of $1.7 million built into this year's forecast, with $3.1 million built into succeeding years.

"In past forecasts, we might have put the higher numbers in for heating costs if we had a severe winter," Boyd said. "This year, we put in average costs and would take care of anything over that from the contingency fund.

"Also, this year we had a 7.9 percent increase in health insurance premium costs and, since then, three months of high usage. Even though we locked in a lower rate, we would experience a higher rate next year because of the high usage," Boyd said.

Board President Gary Tyack and Vice President Bob Horton agreed that not approving the forecast because of the short notice was "not an option."

"Whatever we approve would have to be revised anyway, after the bond issue results, by the end of the year," Tyack said. "I do believe this document is critical and it also may have to be reviewed and revised after the state passes its next biennial budget."