Youngstown schools must repay state for assistance

YOUNGSTOWN — The chairman of the sate fiscal oversight commission controlling city school district spending said Youngstown has been able to reduce its spending to match its income.

The district, however, still has a substantial debt to repay the state for assistance rendered in avoiding year-end budget deficits, said Roger Nehls.

The deficit is now the debt, he said, after an Auditor of State financial forecast for the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2009.

The Financial Planning and Supervision Commission was set up after the state placed Youngstown city schools in fiscal emergency in November 2006. The district ran a $15 million deficit that year and a $10.4 million deficit last year.

For the complete story, see Friday’s Vindicator and Vindy.com.