MEET THE BAUMANN SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS
SCHOOLS
043004 District balances educational, taxpayers' concerns
This is the usual tripe from the board on the budget. NO attempt was made to reduce COSTS AT ALL !!!!!
To the Editor:
Development of our districts annual operating budget is one of the most important responsibilities of the board of education and one that we take extremely seriously. The superintendent and other central office administrators began to outline the 2004-05 budget in the early fall, and their work continued in earnest during the winter months as they examined enrollment projections, reviewed program and facility needs and met individually with principals, directors, and department leaders to generate a preliminary spending plan that was first presented to the board on March 3. At subsequent weekly meetings, the board examined the budget, detail, heard from members of the community, sought additional information and made further refinements before adopting the budget that will be put before the voters on May 18.
The board of education has worked hard to balance the educational needs of the community's children with the taxpayers' ability to support our school system. While the 6.91 percent budget-to-budget increase reflected in the proposed spending plan is among the lowest in the entire region
( SO WHAT !!!! This is gibberish
!!!! The percentage of increase really means NOTHING !!!! It is the SIZE OF THE
BUDGET that one starts with BEFORE the percentage is applied that REALLY
matters.!!!!)
, the tax rate impacts vary widely from town to town. Bedford, Pound
Ridge and North Castle will experience tax rate increases of under 3 percent,
while the increases in New Castle and Mount Kisco will be 13 percent and 23
percent (OUTRAGEOUS !!!!!), respectively These
differences are the consequence of shifts in market and assessed valuations of
property within our district's five municipalities. The school district has no
control over the apportionment of school taxes, and our communities would
experience widely varying tax rate impacts regardless of the size of the 2004-05
budget and even if the budget were not to increase at all.
BULLSHIT !!!!
In addition to the traditional budget proposition (Proposition 1), the board is also placing a second proposition on the ballot for your consideration. As a result of sound fiscal management and recent good experience in our self insured employee health care plan, the district is in the unique position of being able to seek your approval to spend excess accrued funds on specific improvements to our physical facilities and on furniture and equipment for the Mount Kisco and Pound Ridge elementary schools and Fox Lane High School, which are soon to be renovated and expanded. Since the district currently holds the required funds, Proposition 2 results in no additional cost to taxpayers and does not increase your tax rates. MORE BULLSHIT !!!!
In early May, we will mail all residents a brochure that describes both Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 in great detail. We urge you to familiarize yourself with its contents and to seek answers to any questions you may have. Dr. Dennis, our superintendent, will be making budget presentations in each of the elementary schools according to the following schedule:
Monday, May 3, Bedford Village Elementary School Village room, 10:30 a.m.
Tuesday, May 4, Bedford Hills Elementary School cafeteria, 8 p.m.
Friday, May 7, Pound Ridge Elementary School cafeteria, 9:30 a.m.
Monday, May 10, West Patent Elementary School library, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday, May 11, Mount Kisco Elementary School auditorium, 7:45 p.m.
All meetings are open to anyone in the school district who wishes to attend, and ample time will be available to answer your questions. Detailed supplementary budget information is available and regularly updated on the school district Web
site at wwwbedford.k12.nyus, and you may also e-mail specific budget questions to boe@bedford.kl2.ny.us and receive a prompt reply. Most importantly, please be certain to cast your vote on Tuesday, May 18 between 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. in the elementary school serving your attendance area.
Paula Kumar, vice president
Dr. Carmelo Comberiati
Susan Elion Wollin