Tax Rate Up 9.88%:
Latest Draft of School Board Budget

by Judy Silberstein

(April 1, 2003) The Mamaroneck School Board scrutinized the latest additions and subtractions to its proposed budget for 2003-2004 at its study session on Tuesday, April 1. By the end of the session, Board President Bob Martin took an informal poll of the Board and found all willing to support the current iteration. The bottom line: taxes would rise 9.88% and the budget-to-budget increase from last year would be 8.15%.

For a number of weeks, the administration has been wrestling with its assignment from the Board and the community, jokingly described as “Add

everything on the wish list, don’t cut anything, and don’t spend anymore.” In the end, there were both cuts and add-ons, but the budget increase remained under 10%, a benchmark for the Board. As discussed elsewhere, the Board has been hit with a number of large increases for pensions, insurance, and debt service.

The current draft puts back money for continuing education and the Community Counseling center; adds funding for an additional English teacher at the high school and lunch room aides at the elementary schools; and permits up to 25 students per Kindergarten class this year without changing Board policy, which calls for a lower number. It also cuts funds for the Board of Education and further reduces funds for staff development and maintenance.

Superintendent Sherry King also described a compromise, reached after numerous conversations with the elementary school PTA’s, which would save the Understanding Handicaps program for another year. Supporters of the program have rallied in its defense, speaking at meetings and writing letters to the Board and administration.

For the upcoming year, the budget will contain $12,000 for the program and each elementary school PTA will contribute an additional $2,000, for a total of $20,000. While this is only half of last year’s budget level, the current paid coordinator will work with PTA volunteers so they can assume more of the responsibility this year and in the future. In addition, another volunteer will be attempting to secure grant funding.

In a sign of how tight the budget is this year, the Superintendent and Board turned down a request by a task force from the Hommocks seeking $2000 to purchase an extra set of books to keep in the classrooms so students would not have to lug so many heavy items between home and school each day.

"I don't have money for this in the budget," said Superintendent King. "Between $65,000 and $85,000 has already been cut from the text book line."

Board President Bob Martin explained, “This budget has been particularly difficult. We’re sorry, we have not been able to accommodate everyone’s’ wishes. All of the Board’s wishes are not accommodated either.”

“Nor is the Board accommodating our wishes,” added Dr. King.

Nevertheless, she pointed out, “Every year community input has changed the budget. This is an affirmation of the democratic process and the community’s support for education.”