Westlake Schools Treasurer Warns of Potential Funding Delays

Property tax collection shortfall may force district to sell investments to cover monthly expenses

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Westlake schools Treasurer Todd Hopkins advised the school board that the district might need to sell some of its investments to temporarily cover monthly expenses, as property tax collections to date are running behind last year. Hopkins said the district has only collected about $3 million so far this year, compared to $8.7 million by this point in 2025, a difference of over $5 million.

Why it matters

The delay in property tax payments could create cash flow issues for the Westlake School District, forcing them to dip into their reserves or sell investments to cover regular monthly expenses. This highlights the reliance of school districts on timely property tax revenue and the potential impact of delays in the tax collection process.

The details

Hopkins told the board that the district's property tax collections are running significantly behind last year's pace, with only $3 million collected so far compared to $8.7 million by this point in 2025. He said the district might need to sell some of its investments to temporarily cover monthly expenses if the March payment from the county does not make up the difference. Hopkins noted that about 15 school district treasurers in Cuyahoga County are working together to get answers from the county on what to expect for the March payment.

  • As of February 23, 2026, the Westlake School District had only collected $3 million in property taxes.
  • By this point in 2025, the district had received $8.7 million from the county.

The players

Todd Hopkins

Treasurer of the Westlake School District who advised the school board of the potential funding delays.

Cuyahoga County

The county responsible for collecting and distributing property tax payments to the Westlake School District, which has faced delays in mailing out tax bills in recent years.

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What they’re saying

“As you're probably aware, as homeowners here in the district, tax bills went out what I would consider exceptionally late this year.”

— Todd Hopkins, Treasurer (cleveland.com)

“The tough part is, we just don't know how it's going to play out right now, and that's where we're at. I really want to be very clear, I am not taking shots at the county at all. They have a lot of work to do. They've got good people there, but right now, we don't have answers, and that's what creates some of the uncertainty.”

— Todd Hopkins, Treasurer (cleveland.com)

What’s next

The Westlake School District is waiting to see what the March payment from Cuyahoga County will be, as that could help make up the shortfall in property tax collections. District officials are working with other school treasurers in the county to get more clarity on the situation.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the financial challenges school districts can face when there are delays in the property tax collection process, which many districts rely on as a primary source of funding. The Westlake School District's experience underscores the importance of maintaining sufficient cash reserves to weather potential funding shortfalls.