School Budget season is once again upon us, starting tonight with a Community Input Forum at the library at New Rochelle High School. The Budget meetings will be broadcast live on Cablevision (Channel 77) and Verizon (Channel 30) and streamed live on the nred.org web site.
The big question this year is whether the school district will seek to exceed the Cuomo Tax Levy Cap. In order to exceed the Cuomo Tax Levy Cap, voters would have to approve the budget with a 60% vote. In 2011, the budget passed 2,821 (65.2%) to 1,506 (34.8%). In 2010, the budget passed 2,208 (56.2%) to 1,720 (43.8%).
UPDATE: The district is keeping their Budget Survey open for a few more days. It takes about 4 minutes and is incredibly fun so click here to take it.
School Budget Community Input Forum
Monday, February 13, 2012 7:00 p.m. at the New Rochelle High School Library.
RELATED: New Rochelle School District Shares Results of Budget Survey: #1 Issues is Class SizePresentation of Preliminary School Budget
Board of Education Meeting (C.O.W. with Regular Meeting to follow)
Tuesday, March 6, 2012 7:00 p.m. at the Ward Elementary SchoolSchool Budget Review Sessions
Thursday, March 8, 2012 7:00 p.m at the New Rochelle High School Library.
Tuesday, March 13, 2012 7:00 p.m at the New Rochelle High School Library.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012 7:00 p.m at the New Rochelle High School Library.
Board votes on Resolution for Annual Meeting, School Budget Vote, and Election and adopts the 2012-2013 Proposed School Budget (tentative)
Board of Education Meeting (C.O.W. with Regular Meeting to follow)
Tuesday, April 3, 2012 7:00 p.m. at the Barnard SchoolBoard votes on BOCES Budget/Trustees
Board of Education Meeting (C.O.W. with Regular Meeting to follow)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012 7:00 p.m. at the Davis Elementary SchoolPublic Hearing on the Proposed 2012-2013 Annual School Budget (Ed. Law §1716)
Board of Education Meeting (C.O.W. with Regular Meeting to follow)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012 7:00 p.m. at the Linda Kelly Theater at New Rochelle High SchoolAnnual School Board Election/Budget Vote
Tuesday, May 15, 2012 – 13 various polling sites
Talk of the Sound has called for greater transparency in the budget document published by the district. Like other districts, New Rochelle should include, at minimum, the summary pages of the district’s audited financials which were made public last October. Further, the district should include a “Fund Balance Report Card” explaining how much money the district is keeping in reserves and the purpose.
Survey
I thought the survey odd for a few reasons. It seems too obviously leading in several questions. Some seem to be there to scare people about the loss of well-love things like varsity sports (Oh, no, if I don’t agree to pay more taxes they will lose the football team!). Also, what is up with the question about why we vote in school board elections? They need to add a comment section on that question.