Characterizing the New Rochelle School District budget as “relatively” conservative, New Rochelle Superintendent of Schools, Richard Organisciak, answered questions of residents. At the March l0 meeting of the New Rochelle Board of Education one issue brought up was that the proposed budget for the next year had to conform to a tax cap mandated by the state. According to John Quinn, Assistant Superintendent, staff cuts were made. As an example he explained a reevaluation of a position resulted in a lower salary. The final budget will be available on April 1 and the Public Hearing will be on May 5. At the end of August the tax rate will be set.
Responding to the concerns of residents who spoke at the meeting, Mary Jane Reddington claimed she was aware of the difficult economic times and in her 26 years on the Board of Education these are the “hardest times she has faced.” Quay Watkins added these were unprecedented times and that the principals had come back with “cost savings measures.” She added, “We can not fail our children; we will not fail our children.”
At issue is the state required tax cap of 4.1% for a budget increase. Organisciak said that this proposed budget figure increase of 3.75% is less than a contingency budget at 4.1% would be. A contingency budget would result if the voters twice vote against passing the budget this year. However, according to Quinn, this year since the contingency budget is more than the tax cap figure, a contingency budget would be established at the lower proposed budget rate but certain activities could not be funded. These would include limited access of community groups to use the schools, youth oriented activities such as use of the gyms, soccer leagues, basketball and clubs. Quinn emphasized the school system wants children actively engaged. He also explained that there has been focus on saving money on operating expenses. $280,000 was saved by having lights that shut off in unoccupied spaces, and using a fuel system that combines gas and oil that saves $100,000 annually. Evaluating the time needed when borrowing money also resulted in $350,000 in savings.
Robert Cox questioned certiorari and asked, “Doesn’t anyone think more people will want to lower their taxes?” Anthony Sutton read excerpts from a letter he had sent previously to all Board members and said the Board should feel the “pain of the taxpayers.” Ina Aranoff brought up the effects of reassessment which only “rearranges who pays” and felt certiorari which lower taxes were an important factor when reassessment is considered. Other issues expressed were the financial losses of the pension fund, the need to roll back salaries, and the lack of citizen input into the salary negotiation process.
David Lacher assured residents who had come to the meeting that the Board of Education members “were listening” and were glad they had come. He added, the Board of Education was not bound to spend all the money in the budget and that the fund balance would increase if more savings occurred.