Second budget proposal still shows increase

To the Editor:

During 40 years as Pound Ridge residents we have watched the Bedford Central School District budget increase - but never so dramatically as in the past five years.

Recent New York state mandates require that all graduating high school students have a, basic education in English, math and science and that social promotions cease. Accordingly, we believe that the school budget should emphasize hands-on education over high administrative costs. For instance, in the following chart note the increase this year in psychological services and social work services. The following figures from the. Bedford Central business office indicate only a few of the many increases in the proposed budget to be offered voters on June 20.

We also find unreasonable, the fact that our superintendent of schools received in 1999 compensation in the amount of $182,715 while the governor of New York state receives a base salary of $179,000.

The average school tax this year in Pound Ridge is $7,742. If the proposed budget passes, the average school tax ,in Pound Ridge will increase by $774.20. (This means an approximate 10 percent increase for every Pound Ridge taxpayer.)

Our elected school board is submitting for taxpayer approval a budget even greater than that proposed by the administration. Despite the fact that the original budget proposal was defeated by 469 votes, this second proposal still shows a dramatic increase over last year's budget.

We strongly urge a "no,, vote on both propositions. We need a budget that reflects the educational needs of our children and eliminates the wasteful expenditure of taxpayer money.

                      Non-State Mandated Expenses

                                                                 1999-2000     2000-2001 INCREASE

School administration office                   $236,558     $250,503   +$13,945
Business administration                          $528,398     $556,989   +$28,591

Legal services                                            $95,000     $220,000  +$125,000
Personnel                                                 $237,990     $336,40    +$98,950
Supervision                                           $2,512,590   $2,667,879 +$155,289

Psychological services                             $724,674    $820,785     +$96,111
Social work services                                $345,046    $363,824      +$13,778

Nancy and Ernie Condon
Pound Ridge