Voting YES on the School Budget

News Flash! School Budget Increase. 

This headline could be in any local paper in any municipality in the country.  I think we are getting tired of the message.  So what can we do?  Well, first we stop complaining and get involved.  I’ve been a complainer, but I review the details, I show up at board meetings, I talk to our legislators and I participate in community forums.  What have I learned from all of this?  We have a real problem, a system that continues to have escalating costs and mandates without any relief on the horizon.

Getting bored? Broken Record? Well indulge me for a few more minutes…

This year in Mamaroneck is different. For the first time the community was significantly more engaged in the process.  The Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (CBAC) was created and tasked with bringing a new perspective to the process of budgeting.   Although the task was not to address specifically this year’s budget, quite a bit of thoughtful discussion was had and significant insights were given to the district. 

The most significant of discussions and analysis completed this year were on Revenue, Five Year Planning, Reserves and Legislative/Mandate issues.  Committees were formed and well over 100 pages of analysis were completed and presented to the board and administration.

The board and administrators listened and took much of the information provided and incorporated what they could into the current thinking.   This is unique; I am unaware of any other school system that has created an environment where the parents, teachers, district and board have collaborated in such a substantial way.  Our neighboring systems have closed door adversarial relationships that do nothing but continue the gridlock. 

Is it perfect?  Is the work done?  Is there nothing more we can do?  The answer to all of these questions is NO!  More can be done in a proper and responsible way.  We can continue to find waste, we can improve business operations, forecasting and expense control.  We can present new ideas for how to manage reserves, compensation and employee expenses. 

Has the district done enough?  Tougher question, but I think the answer is we have done what is responsible.  Short of having a new contract with our unions there is very little that can be done to curtail additional expense. 

This year reserves are being drawn down against to reduce the tax burden and negotiations are under way with an eye on a long term sustainable contract for the district.  A budget has been crafted that keeps an eye on program, class sizes and costs.

Now what can you do? Vote YES on the budget.  As an insider that has done quite a bit of heavy lifting, I am.  Understand that there is no short term solution but a long term problem that must be solved in a responsible way.  Support our kids and don’t force another $1.3 million in cuts with the elimination of more new and energetic teachers should we go to a contingency budget.   With the lowest budget to budget increase in 40 years, change is under way.  Support this new way of thinking and the new approach to the budget process, come out with me to vote YES and show your support for change in a responsible way.  

Jonathan Sacks

Jonathan Sacks is a parent of 2 children in the Mamaroneck School System, he has written numerous opinion pieces, is a founding member of the CBAC and participates in the Legislative/Mandate reform sub-committee of the CBAC.  In 2010 he has testified before the NYS Senate on the Budget and NY State legislature on Tax Cap and Mandate reform.