Scarsdale School Budget Wins 86.2% Approval
- Category: Schools
- Published: Tuesday, 19 May 2015 23:01
- Joanne Wallenstein
School Board President Mary Beth Gose with Superintendent Thomas Hagerman
Pam Feuhrer and Art Rublin, who had been nominated to serve Newly elected Board Member Arthur Rublin with his wife Erika
The vote count was announced by former Mayor Robert Steves, who was appointed Chair of the District Meeting for the Budget Vote and Election. The 86.2% approval rate was markedly higher than last year, when there were 997 votes and the budget passed by 77.9%.
For those watching the numbers, see below for a history of budget and bond votes in Scarsdale:
Additional factors that may have contributed to the positive vote include:
Decreases in the district's contribution to the NYS Pension and Retirement Systems and the elimination of a planned surplus will save Scarsdale $4.878 mm for 2015-16. This 30% savings over the prior year is a result of improved investment returns. This savings took pressure off the Board and gave them more flexibility to agree on a budget that came in under the tax cap.
This was Superintendent Thomas Hagerman's first budget vote and it appeared that he worked well with the board to reach consensus on sensitive issues. With the board and administration in harmony, former critics of the board and school spending found few reasons to object.
In December 2014, the community approved an $18.12 million bond for improvements to the elementary school, middle school and high schools. The debt service on the new financing replaced retiring debt and will cause no increase in the school budget. By separating the financing of capitol projects into a separate vote, the board and administration diffused criticism from those who may have questioned the need to improve the facilities. When the budget was turned down in 2013 for the first time in 43 years, many dissenters said they voted "no" due to proposed spending for a new fitness center at the high school.
All community organizations, including the Scarsdale Forum, the League of Women Voters and the PT Council supported the proposed budget and encouraged residents to vote yes.
Offering his interpretation of the vote, Board member Bill Natbony said, "I think the administration and board looked at all the cost areas and at all the areas where there was a need for a quality, enhanced program and came to a really good balance. The community recognized that."
The 86.2% approval rate augured a great beginning 2015 Board Members Maude, Gose, Seiden, Natbony and Leone Diane Greenwald Assistant Superintendent Linda Purvis