ABCs of Economic Development: How a Proactive Approach Can Help Your School District (CPIM Approved)

Recorded On: 04/26/2021

Registration Closed

Fees: $55 (Non-Member) / $30 (Member)

School districts are often the last party to the table on economic development projects. As a result, boards and treasurers are cast as either pro-development (accepting abatements negotiated before the schools were involved) or anti-development (daring to challenge the pre-negotiated terms). Big Walnut Local School District has taken a different approach. This district, in rapidly-growing Delaware County, has in recent years become actively engaged in economic development projects big and small. As a result, the School District officials have a strong partnership with other local government representatives, and together they have protected School District revenues while supporting growth. In this panel, Treasurer Jeremy Buskirk of Big Walnut LSD, Marvin Founds of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, and Rob McCarthy of Bricker & Eckler LLP will discuss the secrets to Big Walnut LSDs success. They also will provide an overview of some of the latest trends and legal developments in economic development issues facing school districts.

Rob McCarthy

Partner, Bricker & Eckler, LLP

Rob McCarthy is a public finance attorney. He serves as bond counsel, issuer's counsel and underwriter's counsel on general obligation and structured revenue financings. Rob also works with public and private clients to establish and manage economic development incentives and special purpose districts, including joint economic development districts and new community authorities. In addition, Rob provides general counsel representation on public law matters, drawing upon his prior experience as a law clerk to Justice Yvette McGee Brown on the Supreme Court of Ohio and as an assistant attorney general and legal advisor to Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray.

Rob is a member of Bricker & Eckler’s Recruiting Committee and is a recent graduate of the firm’s leadership development program.

Jeremy Buskirk

Senior Manager, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC

Jeremy is a senior manager with the Ohio team of Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors. He has over 15 years of Ohio school experience, serving as treasurer/CFO and other administrative roles, as well as experience performing financial and compliance audits for government entities. During his time with both Baker Tilly and school districts, he has participated in numerous bond and note issuances.

Jeremy received his B.A. from Spring Arbor Universityin 2005 and his Masters of Business Administration from Mount Vernon NazareneUniversity in 2009.

Jeremy is also active in his community as a member ofthe board of directors for the Big Walnut Chamber of Commerce.

Marvin Founds

Director of Education Finance, Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC

Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC

Marvin Founds is a director and municipal advisor with Baker Tilly Municipal Advisors, LLC. He has been an education finance professional for over 30 years, serving as treasurer/CFO for various school districts in Ohio and later as managing director for a large Midwest capital markets investment banking firm serving assorted education and traditional local government clients.

Through his longtime involvement in the field, Marvin has developed a statewide reputation for his range of knowledge in school finance. He has been a speaker and panelist at many conferences and workshops on topics related to public finance, capital planning, school district revenue and expenditure forecasting, millage studies and bond issuances.

Marvin earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Finance concentration from The Ohio State University, and has two Master’s Degrees from Ashland University - Business Administration and Education.