Scarsdale Schools Budget Vote Looms

You've talked about it, read about it and now it's time to vote on it. On Tuesday May 17, Scarsdale will hold a vote on the school budget. The proposed $138 million budget keeps budget growth at 2.75%, two-thirds due to state mandated retirement costs. This year's budget protects the core curriculum, initiatives in critical thinking and begins Mandarin in the high school. The budget also allows for class sizes to remain the same in the elementary schools and for a second school nurse at the Scarsdale Middle School.

The budget reduces most non-salary costs by 10 percent across the board and makes major cuts in facilities' maintenance and minimal salary increases.

School Board President, Jill Spieler says that the Board has tried to balance the current financial challenges in a difficult financial environment.

Scarsdale has a strong record on passing school budgets. The last time a budget faced an initial defeat according to the school district was in 1970. That budget finally passed after a third vote.

If this current budget is voted down, the Board explains that the community may vote on a defeated budget a second time, with or without revision as determined by the Board. If it fails a second time, the Board must adopt a so-called "contingent" budget, which is subject to a state-imposed budget cap.

There are also state-imposed restrictions on how money can be spent.

For 2011-12, the contingent budget cap is 1.92 per cent. This would require a $1.74 million budget reduction, resulting in job layoffs, and extensive, lasting harm to education. Among the areas that would be affected are interscholastic athletics, transportation beyond state minimum distances, and community services spending; things to strongly consider when at the voting booth.

Two new school board nominees; Jonathan Lewis and Sunil Subbakrishna will also be on Tuesday's ballot.

Voting is open Tuesday the 17th of May from 7am to 9pm at the Scarsdale Middle School and everyone is encouraged to participate.

Jen is a freelance journalist who has covered the economy and markets for over a decade at a major financial news outlet. She lives in Scarsdale with her husband and 2 children. Jen has yet to bake a successful batch of cookies.