New Rochelle School Budget Passes

Voters in the New Rochelle School District voted to approve a $239.5 million budget for the 2013-14 school year by a sizable margin.

Unofficial results had the budget passing with 2,106 votes in favor and 1,061 votes against.

The proposed budget was 2.27 percent larger than the 2012-13 budget—or $5.3 million. The budget was adopted with the maximum tax levy increase allowable by law—3.18 percent.

The levy increase represented a tax rate increase estimated to be 4.53 percent. The actual tax rate will be determined in the fall.

Major factors affecting the budget this year, according to information from the district, were increases in state mandated pension costs of $5.8 million, and reductions in utility tax collections of $770,000 and the use of the fund balance—$1.3 million.

In an effort to keep class sizes favorable, the district decided to add a section each in both grades two and three at Ward Elementary School, which allows for two probationary teachers to continue their probationary assignments instead of otherwise becoming leave replacements. 

In the race for the one vacancy on the board—a five-year term—Pamela Davis received more votes than Robert Cox. According to unofficial results, Davis received 2,019 votes to Cox's 1,402.

The budget for the New Rochelle Public Library was also approved, according to unofficial results, by a margin of 2,084 votes to 904.