Community Reacts to Scarsdale Budget Vote

After the first rejection of a proposed budget in 43 years, the Scarsdale School administration, the Board, the faculty and the community struggled to come to grips with the defeat. Why did it happen, what did the vote mean and how should the revised budget be fashioned to garner a favorable vote on June 18th?

We spoke to some of the key players to get their reactions, listened to statements from the Budget Forum on Thursday May 23 and reviewed the 108 comments posted on the site since Tuesday.

From these comments, here are the reasons for discontent among the "No" voters:

• Budget surpassed the maximum allowable increase (3.38%) as dictated by the NYS Tax Cap
• School tax increases are excessive and force empty nesters to move out of town.
• Budget included funds for a new Wellness Center
• Teachers are overpaid, they do not contribute to their own health insurance and their children attend the Scarsdale Schools, tuition free

Those who supported the budget cite:

• The 2.47% budget to budget increase was the lowest in 30 years
• The quality of the Scarsdale Schools draws new residents to the community
• The excellent reputation of the schools drives demand for Scarsdale real estate
• Many moved here because of the excellent reputation of the schools and want to continue to fund the educational program

Here are comments from people we spoke to as well as those who commented on Scarsdale10583. Read down to the bottom for a plea from one reader looking for a peaceful resolution to the conflict:

Trudy Moses: President of the Scarsdale Teacher's Association: "The budget has not been defeated in the 34 years that I have been here. It is disappointing that the budget went down. The teachers don't want to see programs cut or the quality of education affected. We hope this gets worked out and worry about the loss of programs that keep our schools excellent."

Michael McGill: Superintendent of Scarsdale Schools:

Tuesday's decisive school budget defeat demonstrated that the proposal did not reflect the wishes of a majority of voters at this time. The Board of Education and Administration understand it did not represent a rejection of Scarsdale's commitment to educational excellence. However, the message clearly is to exercise more financial restraint .,,, The Board is committed to developing a second proposal that will merit widespread support and seeks the help of all residents in creating a plan that will unite the community.

Comments from Bob Berg: Leader of the "Vote No" Movement

I rented a list of 3,200 names from the Board of Elections of Scarsdale residents without children in the schools and sent out a letter asking them to vote. I financed it myself and was very surprised at the response and the voluntary contributions I received. I believe the "no" vote was equally shared among people with kids in the schools and empty nesters... In my opinion, the next budget should be within the tax cap, eliminate the Wellness Center, eliminate waste, hold down expenses and minimize tax rate growth. Future budgets should be economically rational so it makes it feasible for people to stay in Scarsdale after their children graduate.

Comments from Vivienne Braun made at the BOE Forum on 5/24

Over 1,700 people voted against the budget because they believe the board can do better and can propose a budget that they can support. The people who voted no used their vote to send this message to the board.

We want the BOE to stop spending on fancy window-dressing that may make the Scarsdale "brand" internationally prominent but that we know is a charade if the board ignores the core industry of this town which is to provide our children with a superior education. We are telling the Board of Education to spend responsibly and focus on those items in the budget that directly affect the education of our students.
I ask the board to listen and incorporate the views and ideas of the voters. The hallmark of Scarsdale is educational excellence. Spending that is not directed squarely at this imperative will not fly in this economic environment. The vote has shown that if you build it, they will NOT come and if you don't spend wisely, they will not acquiesce.

Concerned Parent – Posted May 22, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

What a sad day to see that public opinion has changed in Scarsdale , It's amazing that parents with kids in the schools wouldn't vote in favor of maintaining and improving our schools. And that the empty nesters whose children enjoyed the benefits of unchallenged budgets could be so selfish.

But let's use this opportunity to work together to develop an exemplary budget that eliminates waste, maintain facilities and most importantly provides a high quality education to our students.

To the Board of Education - please don't cut funds that provide direct education - teacher to student interactions, look deep and find other costs, wherever they are, and be vigilant in the contract negotiations - returning revenue you will cut this year to the next year's budget.

Vote No in Albany: Posted May 22, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

As an empty nester, I am proud to say that both of my children received an exemplary education. This town has always put its money where its mouth is. Spreading accusations about the views of Scarsdale by the Ivy League colleges, backed up by a Dean who has demonstrated more than a little poor judgment is ridiculous at best. Waging a campaign against our school budget, that was thoughtfully prepared, explained and shared with the community, that included all residents who chose to be included, was short-sighted. But, turning down a budget whose majority of expenditures are devoted to unfunded mandates by the state of New York with little room for maintaining a superior curriculum, faculty and facility is even more ridiculous. Where are the naysayers when it comes to making their voices heard where it counts .... in Albany? When we don't invest in our schools, we will not enjoy the luxury of others wanting to invest in buying our homes. If we don't invest in our children, we are not investing in our future. It takes money to provide an exemplary education and if we don't commit to improving what we already have, then we all lose out. If you are not willing to make the investment, then you should sell your home to someone who is and enjoy your profit because of those of us who made the investment.

Gary: Posted May 22, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

Being missed in this whole discussion is that 90% of the budget is controlled by the Teachers and other Unions who have incredible benefits compared to both the private sector and other schools. One example; no cost for health insurance which includes up to $500 per person in the family (marriage not required) for designer eyeglasses. This vote should send a strong message that years of a blank check policy to attract the best teachers (no argument for that goal) needs to end. It isn't necessary as Scarsdale is one of the most desirable places for a teacher to work; money and benefits aside.

Proper T: Posted May 23, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

The budget was voted down. I am glad. I have believed for many years that our budgets are bloated. The wellness center was simply the tipping point for enough people. I think we have a good school system overall, but an administration that is tone deaf and school board members that are victims of regulatory capture. Hopefully this will be a wake up call.

There are administrative positions that can be cut. Why does the HS need the 3rd assistant principal? Start there and take a serious look at other admin and facilities positions.

End the free ride we give to teachers' kids. I'm told that this is the only town in Westchester that practices such a policy. This is not contractually mandated. Whatever the number is, 100, 80, etc., it is costing us a lot. We know of a number of teachers who live next door in White Plains and send their kids to our schools. We pay the teachers very well. They are not needy people. We are not subsidizing the education of their children; we are paying for it outright without any contribution on their part.

Jeff Blatt: Posted May 23, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

It is very grim that no one on this board will submit comments under their real name. Quite cowardly.

There really is no point in my repeating all the arguments i have made in the past, and in my listing out facts for others here to consider, because very few of you have the strength of character to change your mind when confronted with information you had not previously considered.

I do feel compelled to engage, again, on the topic of teachers' kids who are here on a "free ride." "Proper T", whoever that is, states that it is "costing us a lot." In fact, it cost almost nothing. Literally, almost nothing. Assume that we did as Proper T wished, and those kids could not attend our schools. Go ahead and list the savings. Come on, tell me. What would we save? A few pencils and books? Maybe we could take a couple of extra desks and sell them on ebay and use the money to cut your taxes by 1/100,000th of a penny? Have you ever done marginal cost analysis in your life?

I could go on and on and on regarding this and other points raised here. The bottom line is that the budget has failed. Part of that is ignorance, part of that is opinion, part of that is lack of voter turnout (yes) on the part of parents with kids in the schools, etc. Part of the reason is that a school board trustee disgracefully used the Watergate era phrase "follow the money" in essentially urging citizens to vote "no" on the budget. For many reasons, the budget failed. The question is now what. A contingency budget, if the next budget fails, will literally destroy the district, cause flight to private school, lower housing values, etc. So, the next budget must pass.

As I wrote in the Inquirer, the school board is not capable of guessing, with precision, what to do to pass a budget. So now, in my view, it must go down the most obvious path. The wellness center must be eliminated, which will raise the problem vs. the tax cap, as the Board has stated. Then, in part two, it must lower the needed taxation to get below the tax cap. This must be done in two parts. Part one, dip into reserves, perhaps by $250,000 or so, but it must be careful not to dip so much that it becomes impossible to keep rates reasonable by using reserves the following year. And then for the rest of the money, there will unfortunately need to be real cuts to the program. Vivienne Braun wanted the budget defeated, and she got it. Now she and the rest of us will share in the pain of her getting her wish. It will be a shared pain and all who value education will lose.

In the end, a two percent tax cap with the problems going on with pensions obligations etc. and no mandate relief by the state is unsustainable. Public education in NY will be destroyed over time unless things change in Albany. No matter what other districts are doing now to get under the cap, and what Scarsdale will now have to do because of this sad outcome, the formula for educational excellence cannot be met with these parameters on an ongoing basis.

Thank You Teachers: Posted May 24, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

To "SHS Teacher" and other teachers in the Scarsdale "Community"

Thank you for your service to my children and all the other children in the district. On more than several occasions I have been brought to tears by the intelligence, kindness, and generosity of spirit Scarsdale teachers. I've seen patience, compassion, and guidance going far, far beyond what is required in their duties. It's been a privilege to see your influence shaping young learners.

I'm ashamed of my neighbors being so rude to the selfless individuals who work with their children every day. Truly ashamed.

Please know that there are still many here who value your work, your work ethic, and your humanity. We will persevere.

A Brief Interlude: Posted May 24, 2013 on Scarsdale10583

A brief interlude, May 24, 2013
Life is very short, and there's no time
For fussing and fighting, my friend.
I have always thought that it's a crime,
So i will ask you once again.
Try to see it my way,
Only time will tell if I am right or I am wrong.
While you see it your way
There's a chance that we may fall apart before too long.
We can work it out,
We can work it out