Fiscal Emergency Declared for Barberton City Schools

Press Release • Ohio Auditor of State

COLUMBUS - Auditor of State Keith Faber has placed Barberton City Schools in a state of fiscal emergency after the district failed to submit an acceptable plan to eliminate anticipated budget deficits.

The district was placed in fiscal watch May 21, 2026, after it failed to submit a written proposal to address anticipated deficits of $5.1 million, $12 million, and $21 million in fiscal years 2027, 2028, and 2029, respectively.

Under state law, a district placed in fiscal watch has to submit an acceptable plan within 120 days to address anticipated deficits. Barberton City Schools failed to do so; its latest recovery plan submission included a $1.5 million deficit for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027.

With Tuesday's declaration, the district will come under the oversight of a financial planning and supervision commission. Within 120 days of its first meeting, that commission, with the assistance of the board of education and the community, must develop a plan to eliminate the fiscal emergency conditions.

The Auditor of State serves as the "financial supervisor" of the panel and will provide accounting training and assistance to ensure compliance with the recovery plan and various accounting rules and reports.

With the addition of Barberton City Schools, there are now three districts operating in a state of fiscal emergency. Additional information about fiscal distress declarations for schools is available online at ohioauditor.gov/fiscal/schools.html.

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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 5,900 state and local government agencies. Under the direction of Auditor Keith Faber, the office also provides financial services to local governments, investigates and prevents fraud in public agencies, and promotes transparency in government.

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