Last Chance: New Rochelle School Budget Public Hearing

New Rochelle voters will go to the polls May 15 to decide whether to pass the budget for the 2012-13 New Rochelle School District.

At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, the board of education will hold a public hearing on the budget so people can understand what they are voting for or against.

The board approved the $234,174,978 spending plan at a recent meeting. It represents an increase over the current budget of 1.43 percent.

According to a fact sheet on the school district's Web site, the projected tax rate is estimated to increase 4.13 percent, though the actual tax rate will be determined in the fall when the city's tax roll is finalized.

While the proposed budget is only 2 percent higher than four years ago, the plan voters are being asked to approve will reduce staffing by 38.5 positions that will likely result in 27 layoffs. That figure could change, school officials said.

Factors that led to the increase in spending included hikes in insurance premiums and pension contributions, state aid reductions of $5.7 million and the end of federal stimulus money.

Before the public hearing the school board will meet at 7 p.m. in its Committee of the Whole Session. A copy of the agenda is attached to this article.

The meeting will be held in the library of , 265 Clove Rd.