Philip Christe, PO Box 649, Mt. Kisco, New York 10549



We Said "NO" on May 16 1h. We Must Say "NO" Again on Tuesday, June 20 th.

Dear fellow Mount Kisco Residents,

I am a life-long resident of, graduate of, and business owner in, the Bedford Central School District. Like you, I am concerned about the rate of increase in our school budgets and its relation to the quality of public education and property values.

If you were here in 1991, you may remember the budget at $41,792,997. Now, the district is asking for $63,830,008. That's a growth rate of 58%, or 6.4% annually.

What many do not realize is that the growth rate in school taxes outpaces the budget rate. For example, the proposed budget to budget increase is 6.89%; but the school tax levy is increasing by 9.34%-from $52,759,847 to $57,685,586.


If the budget passes, this would mean a $4,925,739 tax increase for district property owners.

Higher taxes have never lead to higher property values.


Didn't voters clearly reject the May 16 th $67.8 million budget proposal that represented a $5.9 million tax increase? Is there any real difference with this new budget proposal? What are the actual dollar differences?


$11,564 off of the $6.6 million "Administrative" section (2/10ths of 1%)

$790,834 off of the $51 million "Program" section (1.5%)

$201,830 off of the $9.1 million "Capital" section (2.2%)


The board, in other words, has allowed the administration to first protect and feather its own nest, while parents get heated over "cuts" to educational programs and facility maintenance.


Parents are the targets of a veiled threat: if the $65.3 million budget fails on June 20th, their children's educational opportunities will be severely compromised. Let me offer facts gathered directly from the district's budget books; I hope they offset the Chicken Little forecasts of a contingency budget.



Under a contingency budget the Administration and Board tell you:

o $2.3 million will be cut from its $65.8 million budget ... what they don't' tell you is that it would still mean a $1.9 million increase to our current 1999-00 budget (a 3. 1 % increase).

u $300,000 would be cut from the Administration's budget ... what they don't tell you is that it would still mean a $142,079 increase from its current level (a 2. 1 % increase).

u $1.1 million will be cut in "other programs" and staffing cuts ... what they don't tell you is that it would still mean a $2.63 million increasefrom its current level (a 5.6% increase).

Li A new principal will not be hired for Mount Kisco Elementary ... what they don't tell you is that the board could hire the selected principal. The existing Administration budget already pays the interim principal $400 a day. Meanwhile theformer Middle School principal is kept on payroll in an artificial central office post.

o Free use of school facilities by outside groups will be eliminated ... what they don't tell you is that outside groups are already charged ($179,500 projected revenue in 2000-01 budget) and that use by PTA and other school-related groups are considered allowable contingent expenses.

Interscholastic sports, transportation, and co-curricular activities will be eliminated ... (my favorite) ... what they don't tell you is that interscholastic sports, transportation, and co-curricular activities are contingent expenses under 1997 Education law.



Also undisclosed from Proposition 2 is that the $160,000 for replacement windows at Pound Ridge Elementary was already bought and paid for within the 1997 $17 million construction bond!

Yes, the administration would like you to pay twice for windows.

Financial mismanagement in government is widespread, no less so in Bedford Central. For the last two years, the district has overspent its publicly approved budgets by 2% or approximately $1,000,000 each year. The shortfall has been made up in reserve funds that accrued with your tax dollars, not unlike an Interest-free taxpayer loan.

Please be assured that Education Law for a contingency budget is meant to protect a district, not to punish it.

Protect public education and district property values with sound financial management. It's in everyone's best interest to defeat the budget this coming Tuesday, June 20 at your local elementary school from 7:00 am to 9:00 p.m.

Sincerely,


Philip Christe
June 15, 2000
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