Briarcliff Schools Look for More Cuts, Board Reluctant to Use Reserves

"We heard loud and clear that we have to live within our means."

According to Briarcliff Manor Board of Education Vice President Jennifer Rosen, that was the message the community gave when less than the necessary 60 percent supermajority voted in favor of the proposed budget May 21.

That budget, calling for $626,444 more in expenditures than what would keep the maximum allowable tax levy increase in 2013-14 under the state-mandated "tax cap," received under 52 percent of voter-approval.

"The community wants us to live within our means," Rosen said of the results at Wednesday's board meeting.

Board members and residents heard an updated budget presentation by Superintendent Neal Miller, which outlined an additional 2.1 full-time equivalent staff reductions that would affect the high school writing lab, elementary music program and clerical positions—cuts, he said, that would bring down the budget by $158,701.

An additional $316,299 savings could be achieved, he said, with further reductions in the areas of technology, operations/maintenance (repairs), supplies and other programs.

"We also looked at our fund balance," Miller said, suggesting the district could use $175,000 more of its unassigned fund balance toward the budget.

"This is enough [$650,000 total] to get us under the tax levy limit," he said.

Miller said this proposal would mean "exactly a 1 percent budget-to-budget increase from last year."

A number or residents went to the podium Wednesday to weigh in on the budget vote and new proposal.

"It is unfortunate that the budget did not pass and your message was louder," Melanie Heyman said, addressing trustee-elect Paul Wasserman.

Wasserman himself, along with running mate Louis Linder, also addressed the board.

Both candidates encouraged residents to vote down the budget leading up to the election.

"I will detail a way to maintain all programs and reach a tax [cap] compliant budget," Wasserman said. "There is enough money in this budget to keep all programs to make it tax-compliant. It’s the board’s choice to cut programs. It is unnecessary."

Board President Sal Maglietta asked Wasserman and Linder to share their plans with the board and community.

"Please provide that information and we will use it in the best possible way for this district," he said.

Wasserman did not respond to a request from Patch asking for comment on the budget. As of Friday afternoon, Maglietta said the board had not yet received any materials from Wasserman or Linder.

Board Trustee Michael Haberman said he did not want to "lose track of the fact that we are talking about another $600,000 on top of the $200,000 [already cut]," who added he has "a lot of questions before I can vote on this."

Said Miller, "This isn't rosy at all. I certainly feel for those people who will be affected by this."

Trustee Dina Brantman said she was uncomfortable putting off district repairs and "dipping into our fund balance."

"We keep pushing things down the road and no one knows if next year is going to be better or worse," she said. "I am having a problem balancing these competing needs."

Rosen referenced the Pathways program "people are very much attached to" and non-mandated items including a dean of students and writing lab, asking if the "small district" could live without such programs and positions.

"We have been a big supporter of the Walkabout program for many, many years," she added. "For us to pull this program from our budget; it pains me."

Walkabout Education Foundation has been asking its supporters to attend Monday's 8 p.m. meeting, when the board plans to adopt a new budget, to ask the program be saved.

"In response to the proposed cut of Walkabout, the Briarcliff board of education can expect a strong and vocal support for the Walkabout program at the meeting on Monday night," Walkabout's Ken Conte wrote in a statement to Patch.

Maglietta said he agreed with his colleagues in that "I think it is in the best interest of the district not to touch those reserves."

If the budget fails to receive a majority (more than 50 percent) of votes on June 18, it must adopt (without public votes) a contingency budget with a zero percent increase over the current year.

Stated Maglietta, "For me, the most important thing is that the community embraces and understands the budget that is going to be put forward on June 18 and I am hopeful that everybody will have the facts so that they can make the right voting decision."

The board of education's June 3 agenda includes time for both another budget presentation and later, a vote on the proposed budget by the board. The budget will go to a public vote on Tuesday, June 18.