Sound Shore

Residents won’t be voting on a school budget until May, but Port Chester is already in campaign mode — starting a conversation about the tax cap, the flattening out of state aid, and the consequences of both. The district held a community forum Monday night to rally voters and inform them about the budget prospects. You can watch the video here.

A preliminary “rollover” budget would call for a $4.4 million (5.58 percent) spending increase next year. That would mean an $4.6 million (8.3 percent) increase in the tax levy, or total amount raised by property tax, to make up for other losses in revenue. And that kind of budget would require an override by 60 percent of voters under the new tax cap. The cap on the tax levy increase is effectively 2.2 percent, or $1.2 million, according to Assistant Superintendent Maura McAward.

There is no proposed budget yet, so that’s a hypothetical situation for now. Superintendent Edward Kliszus went through the options of non-mandated items that could be eliminated next year to stay within the cap, while proclaiming that in his view, “Nothing here should be cut.” The items include a reduction to half-day kindergarten, an increase in class sizes, and cuts to athletics, AP and foreign-language courses, instrumental music and the new International Baccalaureate program.

Another scenario that prompted parents to speak out was the option to designate full-time teacher assistants, aides and nurses as part-timers, with no benefits. That’s on the table along with an out-of-district alternative high school program.

Budgets adopted by the Port Chester school board have won the endorsement of voters over the last few years, but not by 60 percent. The support was 52 percent the last two years, 59 percent the year before and 56 perent in 2008- 09.

As in other districts, officials advertised the contact information for the governor and state legislators, saying that now is the time to lobby for state aid increases, particularly to poor school districts.

Information about the Port Chester budget is being updated on this district web page. Last night’s presentation is at the top. We’ll have more at LoHud.com.

 

Good Monday morning. Here’s a glance at opinion content published over the weekend in The Journal News:

Sundday, Dec. 18
Tappan Zee Bridge: Editorial
We comment on news that a bipartisan coalition of Hudson Valley political leaders have called on Gov. Andrew Cuomo to slow down planning for a new Tappan Zee Bridge; the group said any new bridge must include mass transit options. We agree. We write:

How fast should the fast-tracked plan to replace the Tappan Zee Bridge go? Local elected officials, along with environmental and transit advocates, have an answer: not quite as fast as Gov. Andrew Cuomo would like. In a joint statement Thursday, a bipartisan coalition said it was “not enough” to design a bridge with only the possibility of adding transit later, as the current plan shepherded by Cuomo does. Their concerns should be taken seriously — by Albany and Washington both.

While the new Tappan Zee Hudson River Crossing project has proceeded at breakneck speed in the last two months, the key ingredient is still missing: money to pay for it. That means policymakers still have ample opportunity to consider what 11 elected representatives said in their statement, and what scores have stated at some 280 public hearings: “… the Tappan Zee Bridge must be replaced, but . . . a bridge without public transportation would gridlock the Hudson Valley’s economy and do nothing to prevent rising traffic congestion and air pollution.” …

(more…)

Peekskill’s Ramon Searight, left, battles Iona Prep’s Isiah Ice for possession during the first half of the boys basketball game at the 18th Annual Harry Jefferson Basketball Showcase at White Plains High School on Dec. 17, 2011. Iona Prep beat Peekskill 56-49. ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

See more photos from the 18th Annual Harry Jefferson Basketball Showcase game at White Plains High School between Iona Prep and Peekskill in a photo gallery, and go to LoHud.com for the game story.

 

 

Suffern celebrates after Nick Jaeger scores the second goal of the game in the first period against Mamaroneck during a 6-0 win at Sport-O-Rama in Monsey.  ( Xavier Mascareñas / The Journal News )

Click to see more photos from thegame.

 

Mamaroneck voters approved a new library budget by a vote of 328 to 267 in yesterday’s balloting. The $2.72 million budget comes with a 20.38 percent tax-rate increase next year. That translates to an $80 rise in the average homeowner’s library tax bill, currently about $500. Library officials called it a “one-time step up” attributable to higher operating costs from moving to a renovated, expanded facility and debt payments on the renovation. The budget also adds one full-time position.

The federal National Transportation Safety Board called Tuesday for a national ban on the use of cell phones and text messaging devices while driving. Do you support such a ban? Cast a vote in our poll:

The second round of Harrison’s budget hearing will continue tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m.

Two weeks ago the meeting grew contentious, and Republicans cut back most of the raises for department directors which were proposed by outgoing Supervisor Joan Walsh, a Democrat.

With these latest amendments, the raises reflect a 3 percent increase in the new year – which is consistent with what their staffs get through union contracts.

The positions and their salaries (what was proposed by Walsh and what it was cut back to by Republicans) are as follows: (more…)

Port Chester is congratulating 13 high school students and graduates who earned AP Scholar awards based on their achievement on the exams.

Those who received grades of 3 or higher on three or more AP exams are: Jesus Bianco, Charles V. Brady, Jennifer Cacciola, Nancy P. Cervantes, Giovanni Del Cid, Jennifer Garcia, Daniel Mascolo, Melvin Veliz and Ana K. Villasenor (all Class of 2011), and Christian Mora and Artur Szerejko (both Class of 2012).

Juan J. Guerra, a PCHS senior, is an AP Scholar with Honor for receiving an average score of at least 3.25 on all AP exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on four or more of these exams.

Brittany Abel, Class of 2011 valedictorian, is an AP Scholar with Distinction, receiving an average score of at least 3.5 on all AP Exams taken and scores of 3 or higher on five or more of these exams.

Port Chester High School currently offers 13 Advanced Placement courses. It is developing a plan to add International Baccalaureate program.

Route 1 in Port Chester is one of the areas being studied as part of the village’s comprehensive plan, and  officials are asking for input from the public. “Stakeholders” are invited to a meeting Thursday at 9 a.m. the Village Hall conference room, 222 Grace Church St. Breakfast starts at 8:30.

The topics: a survey of shoppers and merchants, redevelopment and the retail market, transportation, infrastructure and urban design. For more information, call (914) 939-2200.

 

Rye residents rejected a $20 million school bond today by a vote of 1,777 to 1,471, ending a plan to build a new wing of science labs onto the high school and renovate locker rooms, guidance offices and other areas. The plan was designed as an answer to growing enrollment, adding a total of 16 classrooms.

School board President Laura Slack read this statement after the results came in:

Although the Board of Education is disappointed by the results of our bond vote, our space challenges have not changed. The fact remains the middle school and high school buildings are already over capacity, and the enrollment projections indicate this will continue to be the case in future years. And our science labs from the 1960s and ‘70s are another critical area of concern. It is troubling that in a community like ours, a well funded campaign of consistent disinformation, distortions and fabrications was used to undermine our schools….

Slack made reference to last-minute ads and robo-calls overstating the property-tax impact of the bond. According to the district’s estimates, the project would have added $47 onto the average homeowner’s bill for 2012-13 and $300 thereafter over the life of the 20-year bond. She concluded:

Unfortunately those unable to vote, our children, were the true losers today. The vote today will not end this board’s commitment to finding a solution to the enrollment issue. This board will continue our dedication to the education of children in the district.

The referendum appeared to have a very strong turnout. “I haven’t seen a presidential election this crowded,” resident Chip Barnes said after casting a “no” vote at the single polling place in the middle school.

“We just don’t need any more taxes,” he said.

Laura Breckenridge voted “yes.”

“I think we need to think forward about the future of our community,” she said afterward. Both Barnes and Breckenridge have children in the district and specifically at the high school. Breckenridge said the schools were her reason for moving to Rye. “I think it would deter people from this community if it didn’t enhance and show a concern for our school system,” she said.