051404 Kisco tax jump imperils budget

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The Public Schools of Westchester County New York

051404 Kisco tax jump imperils budget

BY DON HEPPNER

Bruce Dennis, in his final year as superintendent of the Bedford Central School District, took the district's proposed budget on the road to give residents a chance to ask questions about the $5.7 million increase, which amounts to a 6.91 percent hike over the 2003-04 budget. Dr. Dennis said the rise was modest compared to surrounding districts - for example, Katonah-Lewisboro School District is 8.95 percent higher than last year, and Somers Central School District is 9.6 percent higher. Byram Hills faces an increase of 11.8 percent.

Bedford Central's increase brings the total school budget to $87.6 million.

Although Dr. Dennis says the budget increase is relatively low, he said it is in danger of defeat because the greatest percent increase is in the Mount Kisco Elementary School area, which traditionally passes the budget by a wide margin. The other areas historically pass the budget marginally or defeat it.

Dr. Dennis said Mount Kisco area residents would face a proposed 23.33 percent increase over last year. In Bedford the increase would be 1.65 percent, and Pound Ridge would be 2.65 percent.

"Even if the budget was defeated, Mount Kisco is facing a big increase," Dr. Dennis said. If the budget is voted down twice, and the contingency budget goes into effect, Mount Kisco residents would still face a 21.34 percent increase.

Because of the relatively low 6.91 percent increase, the contingency budget would not significantly affect other elementary school areas. The contingency budget would decrease the proposed increase in taxes to 1.0 percent for Pound Ridge, .02 percent for Bedford, 11.17 percent for New Castle, and 1.24 for North Castle.

In terms of dollars, the proposed budget would tax Bedford residents at a rate of $93.74, Mount Kisco at $46.54, New Castle at $55.02, North Castle at $398.65, and Pound Ridge at $69.36 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

Dr. Dennis said the increase was generated in part by the demands put on the staff and buildings by higher enrollment in the district. High school and middle school enrollment is up 8.35 percent and 4.33 percent, respectively. The proposed budget includes hiring seven full-time teachers in an effort to keep class size at an acceptable level.

The proposed budget contains two propositions. Proposition 1 is the proposed budget of $87,583,844, which represents a $5,658,884 increase over last year's budget.

Proposition 2 requires no additional taxes. It includes $750,000 for capital projects for all seven schools in the district as well as furniture and equipment for Mount Kisco and Pound Ridge elementary schools.

Since the district's sale of its Gregory Avenue property might not go through, the district has set aside $330,000 that was anticipated from the sale of the property to fund capital projects.

Capital projects planned under Proposition 2 include the installation of a turf field on the main stadium field, boys' baseball field, and girls' softball field at the high school, with a projected total cost of $800,000.

Proposition 2 is not a part of the proposed tax increase and will use no new tax money, since $1,760,000 is from the unused fund balance from the 2003-04 school budget.

Proponents of the turf field project received donations of $120,000, which offsets some the cost, and the district received $44,000 in New York State grants designated for other capital projects that supplements the unspent reserve.

The peculiarity in the spike for Mount Kisco taxpayers is due to the tax equalization rate, which is the state's measure of a municipality's level of assessment achieved by dividing the town's assessed value by the town's market value. The good news for Mount Kisco residents is the market value of property in town increased.

Although Mount Kisco residents' tax rate increase is higher than other towns this year, the 10-year average rate increase demonstrates parity among the different areas. Bedford averaged a 4.9 percent tax increase, Mount Kisco 5.37 percent, Pound Ridge 4.83 percent, and New Castle and North Castle are at 6.67 percent and 5.57 percent, respectively.

"It is important residents in Pound Ridge and Bedford turn out to vote this year, or the budget might not pass," Dr. Dennis said.

The annual board and trustee vote for the district takes place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Tuesday, May 18. Voting takes place at district elementary schools.