WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. By John F. Bailey. March 9, 2010: The School District has officially cut the school budget year-to-year for the first time in district history. Last night, the district  matched up revenues with their final round of expenses Monday evening and projected the 2010-11 School Budget would raise school taxes 4.72%.

All together, possible city tax increases, county tax increases combined with the School District budget presented Monday night could increase property taxes $1,500 or more in 2010 for the White Plains homeowner with a $650,000 home.

The school tax increase quietly crept up over the last six days.

Last Wednesday evening at a public forum on the budget, the district touted the tax increase to those in attendqance as being only 3.4%.

This means about a $400 increase for the White Plains median home priced at $650,000.

The tax increase has gone up over 1% from what the district told the public it was going to be six days ago  at a budget forum at the high school.

Should Governor David Patterson’s budget team and the State legislature go through with plans to lower the Star Exemption by18%, the school tax will go up an additional $165 to $665 for the median home

Barring any last minute financial miracle from the state legislature restoring school aid, there appears no revenue relief in sight. Assistant Superintendent for Business Fred Seiler told WPCNR, Assemblywoman Amy Paulin had indicated that the legislature would like to restore school aid cuts (accounting for $2.4 Million in revenue shortfall),but the state was facing a $9 Billion budget deficit themselves.

First School Budget Decline in District History

The new budget presented stands at $184,539,094, down ¾ of a percentage point from this year’s budget. This is the first time the White Plains School budget has decreased year-to-year since it incorporated in the early 1950s, according to the School District Business Office. The budget has increased every year for the last 60 years. Current budget history only goes back to 1989-1990.

83 Full-Time Employees Cut.

Last night the district said that 41 Full-time teachers were being cut, 38.5 Support Staff (teaching assistants), 3.7 administrators,  for a total of 83.1 position cuts, lowering total employment staff of the district (including part-time employees) to 1,060. Retirements, according to Fred Seiler are also expected, and Seiler said retirees were not going to be replaced.

Jackie Mackin of the School District Business Office explained how this works. She said, “That’s not entirely true, say,  a history teacher retired and no cuts had been made in social studies, a teacher could be hired to replace that retiree’s slot,” she explained. She said that presently 71 persons presently on staff are scheduled to have their positions eliminated. So far 30 teachers have retired.

Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources Leonora Boehlert said teachers being terminated would be notified in April.

Teacher’s Contract Extended to Save Money This Year: Clouet.

WPCNR learned last night from the head of the White Plains Teachers Union that the School District, two weeks ago approved a contract extension for the teachers in Executive Session.

The extension grants the teachers a 2.25% pay increase, with no change in pay increases per step level and longevity, which amounts to approximately a guaranteed 4.25% increase in pay in February 2012.

Extending Teacher Contract enables cuts.

Asked why the school district negotiated raises two years ahead of time when revenues for 2011-12 are being challenged due to assessment declines, and revenues for 2010-11 were unknown at this time, Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Christopher Clouet said “It was to save money this year.”

He said that in return for extending the contract an extra year and agreeing a a 1-1/4 net expenditure to fulfill the raises, the teachers extended the work day by one period every day, granted retirement incentives this year, and agreed to limit “lane changes (automatic increase for completing course requirements for advance degrees)” to one lane change per year, as well as health charge increases.

The new pay chart for 2011-12 has not been completed yet, Leonora Boehlert, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources told WPCNR.

Revenue Losses

The school district lost $6,135,931 in revenues. $1.57 Million were lost due to PILOTS terminating on 360 Hamilton Avenue and a PILOT refund on the Cohen Brothers building (333 Westchester Avenue); $450,000 in lower interest income, $1.6 Million due to a closure of the BART program at New York Presbyterian Hospital, and $2,439.940 in decreased school aid.

Property Taxes up over $1,500 for median home in one Year.

In 2009-10, the median White Plains homeowner having a house valued at $650,000  paid approximately  $13,500 in property taxes to Westchester County, the City of White Plains and the School District.

In 2010-11, that same homeowner could pay $2,860 to the county,  possibly $3,600 to the city (if the city raises the tax rate $40 to cover their anticipated deficit, $12 Million), and $8,657 in school taxes (if 18% STAR EXEMPTION is enacted), for a grand total of  $15,117 and increase of $1,646.