Profile

Mr. Todd Puster, RSBA

Treasurer/CFO,
Orange City SD
Bronze Member
20 Year Member

Treasurer/CFO,
Orange City SD

Bio

Todd Puster
Professional Background


Todd Puster brings more than a quarter century of experience as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of Ohio school districts. Currently, leading the fiscal operations of the Orange City School District in suburban Cleveland, he has served the following school districts: East Liverpool, Streetsboro, Ashland and West Geauga. Todd is considered among the leading commentators on Ohio school finance and is the author of several professional articles. He contributes articles from time to time to "SBO Quarterly", the Ohio counterpart the the ASBO International SBA publication. Todd has testified before state legislators on Ohio school finance and his expert testimony on school funding matters has been affirmed as “most reliable” by the Ohio Supreme Court. With great assistance from his professional network in July 2019, Todd engaged support from his Board of Education, superintendent, local public officials, and other school stakeholders to stop an amendment to Ohio's budget bill that could have cost Orange City Schools $6 million-a-year in tax revenue, representing 12% of the District operating budget.

Todd has been involved in school construction and renovation projects. Current projects include an energy conservation project and middle school renovation for Orange City Schools. Prior projects include a $43 million comprehensive renovation project funded largely through the State of Ohio for East Liverpool City Schools. In 2002, he was instrumental in leading the Streetsboro district through a facilities project commitment that resulted in a 35% State share for a $67 million facilities rebuilding project voters approved some 10 years later. Had the State commitment not been secured at that point, local taxpayers would have had a State commitment for just 15% of the cost. This saved local taxpayers more than $10 million.

Todd has demonstrated a strong commitment to excellence in financial reporting and accountability over his career, including the ASBO Certificate of Excellence. The Ohio Auditor of State has recognized Todd with the “Making Your Tax Dollars Count Award,” one of the highest tributes a local fiscal officer can receive from the Auditor of State among other accolades. The State awards recognize Ohio public offices that achieve three benchmarks: outstanding financial reporting, having no legal non-compliance citations and having no findings for recovery of misspent money.

Todd has worked through his professional organizations on various financial improvement efforts. For example, he was directly involved in a legislative task force that worked out implementing details for what has become the Ohio school district five-year forecast. He is regularly asked to share his expertise about financial forecasting and analysis with various education management groups and community groups. Statewide organizations to which Todd has presented include the Ohio School Boards Association, Ohio Association of School Business Officials and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators. Todd also has presented at ASBO International conferences.

Todd’s professional activities include participation in the Ohio Association of School Business Officials (OASBO) and the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO). He served in several statewide leadership roles on the OASBO Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009 and continues to serve in key support roles. He also has chaired the Ohio affiliates liaison committee to ASBO International. He has been a Registered School Business Administrator through ASBO International since 2004 and, since 1997, he has been a Registered School Business Fiscal Officer through OASBO.

Todd has chaired the OASBO Legislative Committee and was instrumental in the passage of fiscal reform legislation (House Bill 220 of the 121st Ohio General Assembly) during this time. The shape of several sections of the Ohio Revised Code—including R.C. 3313.375 involving lease purchasing and 5705.391 concerning the five-year forecast—have been influenced by Todd’s work. He has advocated on major school funding issues of the day throughout his career. In recent years, he has been a voice on issues as diverse as tax abatement, tangible property taxation and tax levy law. In April 2008, OASBO recognized Todd by honoring him with the Chuck Gossett Memorial award in recognition of a lifetime of service to the Ohio education community in the arena of public policy advocacy.

Todd received his master’s degree in business administration from Kent State University. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Ohio University. He has participated in various post-graduate education programs through Ashland University and continuing education programs through professional organizations.

Todd's personal interests include domestic travel, gardening, wine tasting, following college football, and maintaining his 7-acre homestead with a 1940s-era Farmall tractor. Married to Judith, they have two sons: one is a graduate of the University of Akron and works as a computer engineer in downtown Cleveland; the other is a graduate of Kent State University with a chemistry major and works for a pharmaceutical company in the Cleveland area.

Member Spotlight

Education

Kent State University
Kent, Ohio, United States
Master's of Business Administration, 1991
Finance
1989 To 1991

Ohio University
Athens, Ohio, United States
Bachelor's, 1983
Political Science
1980 To 1983

Job History

Orange City Schools
Treasurer/CFO
Pepper Pike
August 2015 - present

East Liverpool City Schools
Treasurer/CFO
East Liverpool
January 2009 - July 2015

Streetsboro City Schools
Treasurer/CFO
Streetsboro
January 1999 - January 2009

Ashland City Schools
Treasurer/CFO
Ashland
January 1995 - January 1999

West Geauga Local Schools
Treasurer/CFO
Chesterland
October 1992 - January 1995

Geographical Region

  • Midwest

Job Classification

  • Chief School Business Official

Credentials

  • MBA
  • RSBA