Adopted KL Budget Carries 1.34-Percent Tax Levy Increase

Members of the public have about a month and half to consider whether they will vote in favor of a $114,879,543-budget for the 2013-2014 academic year at Katonah-Lewisboro School District.

The board of education adopted the spending plan, in a 6-1 vote, Monday. According to officials, it carries a 1.34-percent tax levy increase, which comes under the property tax cap. The cap is typically thought of as a 2-percent hold, but the actual number varies by district. For Katonah-Lewisboro, it's 1.53. 

The levy represents how much tax revenue the district plans to collect. Tax rates are typically set in August—when assessment rolls are finalized—and they vary by town.

Officials originally estimated a tax levy increase of 1.5 percent, but a bump in state aid brought the number down to 1.34. Originally, Gov. Andrew Cuomo proposed KLSD receive $6,916,768 for 2013. Lawmakers revised that appropriation to $7,075,866. The district received $6,396,155 for this academic year.

The increase in funding helps the district's revenue situation, and is a "step in the right direction," Michael Jumper, assistant superintendent for business, said.

Most board members expressed support for the budget, citing a long process and a plan that comes under the tax cap, despite a tough economic climate. Trustee Peter Treyz said it was too high and voted against.

"I think that as good as the budget is, as our finance committee has told us, it’s unsustainable," he said. "And that we as a group should in some way address the unsustainability of this budget."

When Superintendent Dr. Paul Kreutzer unveiled the budget in February, he noted a $2.6 million shortfall at the beginning of the preparation season. He also cited piling debt associated with required contributions to post-employment benefits—pension contributions rose by a "staggering" 23 percent this year—and "simply unsustainable" labor contract obligations.

Other trustees also acknowledged a tough road ahead. Stephanie Tobin suggested setting a "tighter goal"—perhaps coming in at a 1.25-percent tax levy increase, instead of just staying under the cap—for the administration next year. She said that would give school officials "plenty of time to develop a budget that can take the money from indirect learning items, as opposed to trying to just lop off teachers" to make a cut.

Trustee Charles Day noted that the board has flexibility with only a small slice of the budget. Most of it is salaries and benefits. Board member Janet Harckham noted that "without the mandatory increase to pension required by New York State, we would actually have a negative budget-to-budget" change. She called the plan responsible, and said it "preserves as much as we can."

"This budget is fabulous considering the cirumstances we find ourselves in," Board President Mark Lipton said. "But we do need to continue working on the circumstances we find ourselves in."

A recent petition from a group of parents asks district stakeholders to work together when it comes to the budget. Locals will vote on the spending plan, and fill three trustee seats, May 21.