The projected $8 million gap for 2012-13 was the difference between what it will cost to run the schools and the taxes that could be levied to support the budget. Under the cap, the district can only raise the tax levy by 2% over the 2011-12 levy, without receiving any relief from state mandated costs that are rising at double-digit percentage rates. To comply with the cap, the Board and Administration feared that draconian cuts would be necessary.

However, new projections show that the district has contained expenses this year and expects lower costs next year that together will cut $6.500,000 from the $8,000,000 gap. The district will realize an unanticipated surplus in the 2011-12 budget due to personnel related savings, and surpluses from reduced utility and health insurance expenses totaling $3,100,000. Purvis explained that many senior staff members have retired and been replaced with new teachers at lower salaries, decreasing the district’s personnel expenses. In addition, the district has reduced the staff by 13 full time positions and 7 support staffers since 2008-9. The $3.1 million savings from the 2011-12 budget, coupled with an estimated $3.4 million reduction in the 2012-13 budget will yield $6.5 million, thereby reducing the $8 million gap to $1.5 million.

Under an override provision of the tax cap law, the Board can decide to present a budget to the community that exceeds the 2% gap in the hope that residents will approve the budget with 60% or more of the vote. In the next few months they will seek community input and weigh community values versus economic necessity to make this decision.

After presentations from Purvis and Superintendent McGill on the enhanced education offered in Scarsdale, the Board asked for public comment. Though attendance at the meeting was strong, the group was relatively quiet. Statements in support of the budget were made by representatives from the PT Council Executive Committee and the Coalition for Scarsdale Schools. Speaking for the PT Council Executive Committee, Suzanne Glaser said, "while it is obviously necessary to be fiscally responsible in these difficult economic times, we feel that it is critical that the administration and Board of Ed create a budget that continues to provide the outstanding education that is the primary reason many of us moved here."

Miriam Popp Seely of the Coalition called the tax cap “an arbitrary number waived around by politicians in Albany that could undermine the program,” and said that the “community has demonstrated support for quality and unique programs.” She urged the Board to “consider core community values before coming up with a budget that complies with the cap.”

Several residents questioned the Board’s budgeting, with one resident posing questions about the funds the Board holds in reserve and another asking for a long term plan that could ease the budgeting process year over year. The meeting, which had been planned to last two hours ended early as a subdued group digested the news that big cuts would likely be averted.

A second community budget forum is planned for Wednesday January 18 at 10 am at the Girl Scout House on Wayside Lane. Community members are encouraged to attend. This was just the first conversation in the budget process that will continue until the vote in May. Stay tuned.