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041103 Bedford Central School Board approves $81.9-million budget
By FRANK NARDOZZI
The Bedford Central Board of Education adopted a proposed school budget for 2003-04 of 581,925,000 at its meeting at the Fox Lane Middle School on Wednesday.
The proposed budget represents an increase in spending of S6,415,640, or 8.5 percent. The spending plan will require tax increases of 9.17 percent in Bedford, 7.89 percent in Pound Ridge, 3.45 percent in Mount Kisco, 9.09 percent in New Castle, and 5.89 percent in North Castle.
The proposed budget is about Sl million less than the budget first proposed by Superintendent of Schools Bruce Dennis on March 5. That budget represented an increase of $7.4 million in spending, or a 9.83 percent increase over this year.
A public hearing will be held on the proposed budget on Wednesday, May 7, at Fox Lane Middle School. District residents will vote on the spending plan on Tuesday, May 20.
The budget was adopted by a vote of 6-1, with school board member Joseph Whelan voting against. Mr. Whelan gave no explanation for his vote at the meeting (see letters to the editor).
The school board's president, Dot Fallon, commented that the budget was "the most difficult the school board has ever faced." She cited state and federally mandated programs, cuts in state aid and the increase in the student population as among the chief reasons for the need for increased spending and taxes.
Other reasons cited included increased salaries under the new teachers contract, as well as burgeoning state retirement system and health care benefit costs - the latter in spite of new requirements for employee health care contributions.
"It is not easy to go to the taxpayers to ask for more money at a time when the economy is stressed in our region and our nation is at war," Ms, Fallon said. "However, we have tried to restrain expenditures at the same time as we have sought to accomplish a lot of important things to maintain our commitment too quality education, class size and professional development."
Proposition 2
The school board also voted unanimously to put a second proposition on the May 20 ballot that provides for the sale of the Gregory Avenue property adjacent to Mount Kisco Elementary School and the application of the proceeds toward various high priority capital improvement projects.
If approved, Proposition 2 would authorize the school board to sell the 160-foot-by-100-foot property for not less than $450,000.
Assistant Schools Superintendent Mark Betz stated that more than 10 interested parties have already come forward. A contract for the sale of the property, as well as other budget documents, will be made available for public inspection at the district clerk's office by April 30, seven days prior to the May 7 public hearing.
Proposition 2 calls for $44,154 in state Rescue 11 aid, plus the proceeds of the sale of the Gregory Avenue property to be applied for the following district-wide capital improvement projects:
• replacement of playground equipment due to the septic system project at Bedford Hills Elementary School, as well as the replacement of a classroom sink and vanity, for a sum not to exceed $68,000;
• replacement of a window wall in the village room, re-carpeting three classrooms, replacement of the front exterior doors and connecting corridor doors, repair and soundproofing of cafeteria walls and replacement of the gym floor at Bedford Village
Elementary School, for a sum not to exceed $124,500;
• partial replacement and repair of the water distribution piping on the Fox Lane campus for a sum not to exceed $20,000;
• replacement of the fire alarm system in the central administration building, for a sum not to exceed $37,500;
• partial replacement of gym lockers and science lab tables at Fox Lane Middle School for a sum not to exceed $130,000; and
• partial replacement of sinks and cabinetry in the classroom area and replacement of the gym floor and lighting at West Patent Elementary School for a sum not to exceed $94,200.
In addition to the budget and proposition, there will be two seats on the school hoard up for election on May 20. They are the seats currently held by Ms. Fallon and Mr. Whelan. A school trustee's term is three years.
In order to run for either of these two seats, nominating petitions must he obtained from District Clerk ( AND SUPERINTENDENT BRUCE DENNIS SECRETARY) Carole LaColla in the central administration building on the Fox Lane campus.
A total of 53 signatures are required for nomination, or 2 percent of all of the voters who voted in the last school election, in May 2002. Candidates' petitions must be filed with the district clerk by Monday, April 21, at 5 p.m.