Byram Hills Budget Calls for 4.2% Spending Hike; Programs Maintained
Byram Hills Superintendent Dr. William Donohue released the administration’s proposed $83.8 million 2013-14 budget last week that increases spending by 4.2 percent but school officials vowed the district would adhere to the state’s tax cap.
Donohue, who made his presentation with Assistant Superintendent for Business and Management Services Gregory Carlson before the board of education on March 5, pledged that programs would be maintained next year and that the only teacher reductions will be because of declining enrollment. All programs launched by the district since 1997 will remain intact, including athletics and extracurricular activities, Donohue said.
Proposed staff reductions call for the elimination of a full-time teacher’s position and a .6 music teacher at Wampus Elementary School, a full-time teacher at H.C. Crittenden Middle School and a .4 administrative technology position, he said.
“None of these will mean a reduction in programs for students or an increase in class size,” Donohue said.
Meanwhile, staff increases totaling the equivalent of 1.2 full-time positions are proposed at Byram Hills High School. The potential upgrades are a .4 biology and science research teacher and a .2 position increase for world languages, social studies, math and art. Despite a projected districtwide enrollment decrease of 46 students, the high school is expected to see a jump of 27 students to 910 pupils, the sixth consecutive year of increased enrollment there.
Carlson said the district has no intention of having next year’s spending plan exceed the state mandated tax cap. As a result of various factors, including the district’s growth factor, Byram Hills will have a tax levy ceiling of 3.6 percent next year. Even if no changes are made to the current proposal, the levy would be under the threshold, Carlson said. Estimated tax rates and the projected tax levy is expected to be released at the board’s March 19 budget hearing.
Similar to nearly all districts, Byram Hills continues to be pressured by unfunded mandates, most notably the contributions for the state Teachers’ Retirement System and Employees Retirement System. Projections peg the district paying about $5.25 million to the TRS, up sharply from the current year’s $3,665,785 contribution. Since 2004-05, the district’s contribution has more than quadrupled.
The ERS will increase to about $2,226,000, up about $380,000.
The district will spend more than $8.6 million in 2013-14 on health benefits, although that represents a modest $80,000 more than this year.
Donohue said the administration was determined to do everything it could to keep costs down by trying to anticipate future needs. The district controls about 75 percent of its budget, with the spending increase in that portion accounting for a little more than a 1 percent increase, he said. The remaining portion of the spending hike is a result of state imposed expenses.
“We wanted to control the costs we control,” Donohue said.
The board’s leadership decried the pressure Albany is placing on districts as the escalating number of mandates combined with the tax cap has made budgeting and maintaining programs increasingly difficult. Board President Brett Summers said state and federal legislators representing the area have been informed that the district is displeased with the “one-size-fits-all regulatory scheme” that penalizes high achieving school districts such as Byram Hills who have to pay to have systems put in place because of failing school districts.
“It’s just really a tragedy when you talk about the funding for public education,” Summers said.
“This is going to be the main issue for us over the next few years,” added Vice President Ira Schulman. “How is our school district going to be managed, from here or from Albany?”
While Summers promised that the district would fight for change, Donohue said the administration is committed to preserving what Byram Hills has.
“The school has a key place in the community and I think as we build a budget that’s a value we want to maintain for everybody,” he said.
Budget hearings will take place tonight (March 12), March 19 and April 9, with adoption scheduled for April 23. The budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 21.
Residents can view the proposed budget on the district’s website (www.byramhills.org) starting on Tuesday, March 12.
Martin has more than 30 years experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, including a frequent focus on zoning and planning issues. He has been editor-in-chief of The Examiner since its inception in 2007. Read more from Martin’s editor-author bio here. Read Martin’s archived work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/martin-wilbur2007/
