Dear Scarsdale Community,

We are seeking your feedback on the proposed budget for the 2025-2026 school year. We hope you will take this opportunity to review the proposed budget, which was presented during the March 10th Budget Study Session #3 and is outlined on slide 22. Despite challenges associated with inflation and rising health plan costs, we believe the proposed budget finds the appropriate balance of delivering the educational programs and services that our students deserve and that our community expects while being responsive to the fiscal realities that many school districts are facing. The proposed budget reflects an increase of 3.55% over the current year's budget and a tax levy increase of 3.40%. The resulting tax levy increases are 1.77% for the Town of Scarsdale and -0.23% for the Town of Mamaroneck.

On March 24th, the Board will hold a Budget Forum where the administration will review the budget process and proposed budget, the community will be invited to share their feedback, and the Board will discuss any potential budget updates in response to community feedback. The Board is then expected to vote on April 7th on the final budget to present to the community during the May 20th public budget vote.

Budget Accomplishments

As it stands, the current proposed budget continues the programs and services that we think our students deserve and that our community expects. We will continue to deliver the exceptional level of instruction provided through small class sizes at the elementary level, the house and team structure at the middle school, and vibrant programs of study at the high school. Mental health and staffing and resources put in place over the last several years will be continued, and we will support the transition of our 8:1:2 and 12:1 special class students from elementary to middle school, and middle school to high school, respectively. The budget includes funding for the replacement of the practice field at Scarsdale High School that is adjacent to Gyms 3 & 4 with an all-season synthetic turf field, impacting hundreds of our athletes. Funding is also included for the start of a cycle of replacement for end-of-life playground equipment at our elementary schools, and for the acquisition of three (3) electric buses and the implementation of charging infrastructure to support the long-term migration from fossil fuel to zero-emissions vehicles consistent with New York State law and our sustainability goals. This acquisition is partially offset by $800,000 in EPA and other grant funding. Finally, this budget supports continued safety and security enhancements through the expansion of door ajar sensors and cameras. 

What is Driving the Budget Increases

As with many other organizations and school districts, we are facing a number of large cost increases due to inflation, health care, and other non-discretionary expenses. The largest single driver of the year-to-year increase in expenses is health plan expenditures, followed by contractual salaries and wages, retirement contributions, and transportation. The District will be eliminating 5.7 positions (budget to budget) to offset growth in other areas of the budget.

Community Feedback

We are now at a critically important point in the budget development process. We urge you to review the budget materials linked herein and found on our website or watch the most recent budget presentation and discussion from March 10th, and share your feedback on the proposed budget between now and Monday, March 24, 2025. You may also wish to share your input directly with us at the Budget Forum at 6:30 PM on March 24th. The full budget book is also now available. Some questions you may wish to consider:

• Are there additional items you would have liked the administration and Board to consider, either adding or removing from this year's or future year budgets?

• How do you feel about the level of budget and tax increase being proposed?

We encourage you to stay engaged with the conversation, and look forward to your feedback. The Board of Education and Superintendent can be emailed at boardofed@scarsdaleschools.org.

Public Vote on the Budget

As you may know, last year the proposed budget exceeded the tax levy cap and required a 60% voter approval to authorize the school budget, rather than a simple majority vote. This year’s budget stays within the tax cap, requiring a minimum 50% +1 voter approval. We believe that staying within the tax cap was an important priority for our community this year, so our focus was on achieving this from the start. However, the fiscal pressures imposed by the tax cap have resulted in changes. As is the case with every budget, failure to reach the requisite approval would result in either a second budget vote with the same or with a modified budget, or a contingency budget. The contingency budget would necessitate reduced expenditures exceeding $5 million. 

Ultimately, each School District retains local control in determining the appropriate budget to deliver the educational programming and experience desired by the community. It is our belief that the proposed budget balances the educational expectations of our students and community while respecting our fiscal responsibilities. 

Sincerely,

Suzie Hahn, Board of Education President

James Dugan, Board of Education Vice President

Dr. Drew Patrick, Superintendent