Approved Mamaroneck School Budget Asks For Nearly 3 Percent Increase in Tax Levy

The proposed 2013-14 Mamaroneck School Budget comes in close to the number presented to the community on March 12 at $127,476,555, and will ask for a 2.73 increase in the tax levy, slightly less than the 2.72 percent increase presented in March.

Incorporating a $750K one-time, budget-to-budget transfer for a second server room project that will provide computer upgrades necessary for mandated 2014-15 online assessments and recovery/disaster relief, the budget increases to $128,226,555, a $3.9 million increase from last year’s $124, 295,897. 

For an average assessed home at $20K, this translates to an approximately $537.20 annual increase in property taxes, slightly less than the $595 originally projected.

As Superintendent Dr. Robert Shaps pointed out, the tax levy increase is almost 1 percent lower than the 3.78 increase allowable under the two percent tax cap law, which would have netted the school an additional $1.2 million.

“For the second consecutive year we’ve presented a budget to the community and to the board for consideration that falls well under the allowable tax cap levy,” said Shaps.

The budget includes a two-year salary freeze negotiated with the teacher’s union that netted $1.1 million in savings as well as the reduction of 13.7 positions and 2,400 teacher hours. 

Also included were expenditures for the restoration of the Hommocks’ Team structure that includes 1.0 positions to make all academic teachers full-time and in line with 2009-10 staffing levels.  There will be an additional elementary special education class added in the spring in order to help reduce out-of-district placements, a further cost savings going forward. Additionally, the school plans to provide iPads for all incoming 8^th and 9^th grade students in September, which they hope, over time, will save the district money on expenses like paper, ink, copiers, books and stand-alone computer labs.

A dual-language kindergarten pilot program and additional computer technology electives at Mamaroneck High School will be “budget neutral” additions due to reassignment of existing staff members, said Shaps.

Overall, a $3.4 million increase in benefits—which includes a $2.5 million increase for Employee Retirement System (ERS) and Teacher Retirement System (TRS) expenses; a $890K increase in medical and pharmacy benefits and a $90K increase in unemployment insurance—was a major driver of budgetary woes, as has been the case for the past few years.

“We’ve had the pressure of continuing to manage our budgets effectively and present fiscally responsible budgets to the community, but, at the same time, that the budget has been directly impacted by, or at least, the tax rate, by the loss of total assessed valuation,” said Shaps, adding that approximately $9 million has been lost in assessed valuation over the past few years.

Further, said Shaps, Mamaroneck is below the median per-pupil cost of $25,114 when compared to other Westchester school districts.

“In some ways, I think we've done a good job in maintaining quality and breadth of our programs; meeting the needs of our students; ensuring that we're continuing to improve the quality of our school system in a cost-effective matter,” he said.

But board members were realistic about the difficulty of maintaining budgets that did not exceed the tax cap in future years.

“This is a good budget and we know next year’s will be harder and harder,” said Board President Nancy Pierson.

The budget vote and school board election will take place on May 21. To view the proposed 2013-14, please visit the district's website here and click on "Superintendent's Recommended Budget."