2nd Time's A Charm: Mount Vernon School Budget Approved By Voters

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Voters have had the final say on the revised school budget after the original draft was rejected on May 17.

SEE: Mount Vernon School And Library Budgets Rejected By Voters

Mount Vernon voters decided to approve the revised school district budget of $266,063,496, a 2.49 percent increase over the previous year. The budget was approved 583 "for" to 315 "against" in the unofficial tally.

The new budget calls for no increase in the tax levy, unlike the 0.5 percent increase voted against last month. The Mount Vernon City School District said that it is the seventh budget in the last nine years that has not called for an increase in the tax levy.

"We heard the message sent by the voters in our community and responded with a budget that does not require the district to raise taxes of residents," Acting Superintendent Waveline Bennett-Conroy said. "We take our fiduciary responsibility very seriously and we are working hard to balance that responsibility with the need to improve our schools and programs for our students."

The school board said the proposed budget will allow Mount Vernon schools to provide additional security resources, maintain teaching and staffing levels, address the pandemic's impact with two additional social workers and four additional school psychologists, continue a pilot dual-language kindergarten program, expand the International Baccalaureate program and cover repairs, renovations and upgrades to schools.