Blind Brook BOE Proposes $40 Million Budget

Members of the Blind Brook Board of Education adopted a proposed budget of $39,960,322 at its regular meeting this Monday night.

The budget has increased a total of 0.94 percent from last year. The tax levy will increase 1.32 percent over last year. Dr. Jonathan Ross said the budget will take up 1.77 percent of the newly enacted two percent cap, leaving 0.45 that could be used in the future.

Clarification from Dr. Ross:  For the record, the tax levy is set to increase by 1.32% or $444,289 over the prior year levy. The District's tax levy limit (cap) is 1.77 percent so the proposed 2012-2013 tax levy is .45 percent or $152,437 less than this cap. Therefore, this amount represents "available carryover" to the 2013-2014 tax levy should the Board seek to use this way at that time.

While the Board unanimously agreed to present the budget to the public, there was extended debate about two items: the athletic director position and a technology purchase.

Board member Jeff Diamond commented on characterizations made in an April 16 article in the Journal News about school board budget woes across the county. Diamond said he never suggested the athletic director position- being vacated by the retirement of James Spano- be eliminated as implied by the article.

Diamond said he did think the salary of the athletic director should be adjusted downward by as much as $25,000 in the proposed budget, despite the recommendation of Superintendent William Stark to keep the line item as is. 

The board voted 3-2, with Diamond and Glen Schuster voting no, to keep the salary line for athletic director in the proposed budget as is- at $140,000. Former president Steve Kaplan said the board should not discuss the salary for the upcoming search outside of executive session, arguing the board might give away some of its negotiating position vis a vis potential candidates.

Board president Sheri Zarkower and Nancy Barr also voted in favor of Superintendent Stark's recommendation to leave the budget line item and current job description for the athletic director as is. [Look for more details in an upcoming Rye Patch post]

Board member Steve Kaplan was the lone holdout on a technology purchase approved by the board. Objecting to what he called a 'lack of diligence' about the proposed purchase of Rosetta Stone language software, Kaplan voted against the purchase of the language software this year. 

The board approved the purchase of 300 netbook computers to address the immediate need for 221 desktop and laptop computer replacements. After Diamond expressed concern about purchasing so many units at the same time and board member Glen Schuster expressed concern about the limitations of netbook computers, only Diamond voted against the tech purchase.

Residents will cast their vote for the budget and two seats on the school board on Tuesday, May 15, 2012.

Three candidates– Nancy Barr, Daniel Savitt and Dr. Richard Buzin– are running for two seats.

There will be a public budget workshop the week prior to elections: Monday, May 7, at 8 p.m. in Blind Brook High School library.