Let us look at the whole picture of the Rye City School Budgets over the last ten years. These facts stand out:

By Bertrand de Frondeville

 Let us look at the whole picture of the Rye City School Budgets over the last ten years. These facts stand out:

1. Enrollment  While it is true that enrollment has increased by 12.4% since 2007-08 and 18% since 2005-06, total enrollment has stabilized in the last three years: 3,303, 3,344, and 3,341. The enrollment surge has steadied.

Board President Laura Slack states: “Demographic projections have historically under-predicted the number of students who actually enroll.” However, in two of the last three years, according to the School District Budget Book, actual enrollment was less than projected.

2. Spending  RCDS has persistently increased spending faster than enrollment growth. Since 2008/9, spending increased by 21% versus enrollment growth of 10.6%.  More recently, annual budget increases averaged 3.52% over the three years of flat enrollment.

3. Reserves Ms. Slack writes, “The District has funded the teachers needed for increased enrollment by using reserve funds. In order to maintain the fiscal health and Aaa credit rating of the school district, we need to decrease the dependence on reserves.”

In truth, the District is at zero risk of losing its Aaa rating. The proposed budget includes $11.25 million in reserves, or 13.6% of the budget. By any recognized standard, the District is awash in cash – two or three times the amount of reserves held on average over the last ten years.

4. Cuts  The District’s proposed $4.8M cuts reveal an irresponsible approach to school leadership. Rather than attacking shameful amounts of waste (nine administrators are paid more than the Governor’s salary, topped off by Dr. Alvarez’s total compensation of $331,330), the Board attacks academic programs. Rather than utilize the millions in excess reserves, it proposed to seriously damage the health of the school system. Remember there are $5-6 million in excess margins hidden in the largest budget components: Salaries, Benefits, and Non-Property Tax Revenues.

Scare tactics don’t work anymore. The Rye voter, as have so many other voters across the country, has learned that governments use these tactics to avoid making sensible decisions. The Rye City School District can live, as we all do, on a reasonable budget. They have lots of reserves, excess margins, and administrative fat in their budget. Voting No will force them to use them.

 

The author is a consulting engineer and scientist and a retired banker. He is a 53-year resident of Rye.