By Carol P. Bartold     

Mar. 8, 2017: After anticipating a difficult budget process for the 2017-2018 academic year, the Bronxville Board of Education examined and discussed a proposed $47.1 million budget that represents a tax levy increase of 1.57 percent.

The budget is within the allowable calculated tax levy cap of 1.6 percent.

The board had anticipated having to work within the constraints of the same flat 0.24 percent tax levy cap that was in effect for the 2016-2017 budget. Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business, reported, however, that the district had a 1.26 percent inflation factor provided by the Office of the New York State Controller to work with in formulating the 2017-2018 budget and calculating the allowable tax levy cap.

New York State's property tax cap limits the amount school districts can increase taxes to the lower of 2 percent and the rate of inflation

The proposed budget represents an increase of approximately $545,000, or 1.17 percent, over the current year's approved $46.6 budget.

The board will adopt the budget in either March or April and will put it before the community for approval at a referendum in May.

"This budget is fairly drama free," Carlin said. "We examined our signature programs and initiatives and looked to maintain our infrastructure and facilities." He added that district officials examined each budget line item to determine where savings could be realized.

A key assumption underlying the proposed 2017-2018 budget arose from a three-year trend showing that student enrollment has reached a plateau in the 1,685 to 1,695 range. Carlin noted that the district is keeping an eye on the grade-level distribution shifts and class sizes in all grades within that stable total enrollment.

"This budget has the flexibility to address anomalies that may arise in enrollment distribution," Superintendent Dr. David Quattrone noted. "We have the resources in this budget to make changes as needed to address the distribution of students among the grades."

Carlin added that the district is looking closely at kindergarten enrollment, currently at five sections and budgeted for five sections in 2017-2018. Projected kindergarten enrollment could call for a sixth section to be added.

The proposed 2017-2018 budget anticipates that approximately $40.2 will be funded by real property taxes, $1.35 million from school tax relief; $5.1 million from non-tax revenue sources; and $500,000 appropriated from the district's fund balance.

Included in the school budget's non-tax revenue is New York State Education Department State Aid, anticipated to be $2.4 million; $1.425 million in tuition; $450,000 in reimbursements for health services the district is required to provide to private schools in Bronxville; and $350,000 in county property tax on properties that border on the village.

The district expects to collect $1.25 in tuition for special education students from other districts. Dr. Rachel Kelly, assistant superintendent for human resources and pupil services, explained that the committees on special education in those students' home districts have determined that Bronxville, rather than the home districts, has the programs to best meet those students' needs. Those home districts will pay the tuition charges.

Carlin estimates that the Bronxville district will also have spaces available to accept 15 regular tuition students for the 2017-2018 year for a total of $175,000 in revenue.

Costs for staffing and benefits represent approximately 75.7 percent of the proposed 2017-2018 budget's expense, with staffing projected to remain relatively flat.

The Bronxville Board of Education will meet again onThursday, March 16, at 7:00 pm in the multipurpose room of The Bronxville School.

Pictured here:  The facade of The Bronxville School.

Photo by A. Warner