By Carol P. Bartold

Apr. 27, 2016: The Bronxville Board of Education, at its April 19 meeting, adopted a budget of approximately $46.6 million for the 2016-2017 year.

The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at its May 5 meeting and residents will vote on the budget in the May 17 election.

Primarily funded through real property tax revenue, the board was restricted to raising the tax levy by the lower of the maximum 2 percent allowable under New York State law or the rate of inflation. With inflation virtually flat, the allowable tax levy rate calculated to approximately 0.24 percent and translated to total tax revenues of approximately $41.5 million in funding for the budget.

The district expects to receive non-tax revenue of approximately $5.1 from such sources as state aid and tuition for regular and special education students.

The accounting for all sources of anticipated revenues to fund the budget resulted in a $580,000 shortfall, which must be funded to meet the budget.

“Fortunately, in the current year we’re projecting an operating surplus of about $300,000,” stated Dan Carlin, assistant superintendent for business. “That will cover most of it.” He added that either reserves or the fund balance would need to be reduced to fund the remaining $280,000 of the shortfall. He noted that the district and board will probably also draw from the reserve fund restricted for tax certiorari to help make up that amount.

Carlin anticipates that total fund balance, which includes restricted and unrestricted amounts, should stand at $6.4 million at June 30, 2016, down from $8.6 million in the prior year. He explained that $1.8 million will be transferred from the fund Restricted for Future Capital Projects to cover the Hayes Field reconfiguration project.

The 2016-2017 budget includes $150,000 in capital expenditures. A portion of that amount is earmarked to cover site improvements at the Bronxville Women’s Club that will provide approximately 50 parking spaces for district staff. The district is seeking approval from the New York State Commissioner of Education to enter a lease agreement with the club, since schools are typically restricted to funding improvements on their own properties.

Capital expenditures earmarked for 2016-2017 are also slated to cover improvements to the third-floor hallway in the auditorium area.

“We feel comfortable with this budget.” Carlin said. “I think it was the consensus of the board that reducing current reserves by $280,000 is acceptable.”

Board Vice President Jeff Rohr explained that a combination of eight early retirements plus a lower assessment for pension obligations accounted for substantial savings in the proposed 2016-2017 budget. “If we hadn’t had those savings,” he said, “instead of being $280,000 short, we would be $1,280,000 short, which is what we’re really looking at for next year.” Assuming a flat or zero percent tax levy cap rate, he added, the district would have to ask for a 60 percent supermajority to exceed the allowable tax levy cap. “The only other alternative is to cut back,” he said.

The Bronxville Board of Education will hold a public hearing on the adopted 2016-2017 budget on Tuesday, May 5, at 7:00 pm in the school's multipurpose room.

Pictured here:  The Bronxville School.

Photo by N. Bower