Assistant Superintendent for Business presents proposed budget at Board of Education meeting
Assistant Superintendent for Business Ken Silver presented the proposed 2023-2024 school year budget at the Board of Education meeting on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. The proposed budget includes a tentative 0% increase in the tax levy, with reserves, state aid, and other sources of revenue covering increases in spending.
The total proposed budget is $269,282,490, an increase of 1.21% from this current year. Increases in spending mainly include charter school tuition (up $1,904,732), regular instruction (an increase of $1,812,468), security up $259,000), utilities ($350,000 more), transportation (up $737,700), health insurance (an increase of $1,072,00) and facilities (an increase of $2,327,000).
The expenses covered in the proposed budget include $67,656,993 in non-negotiable mandates. These mandates include an 8% increase in health insurance for active employees and retirees, charter school increases, and other employee benefits. There is also a $1,603,072 obligation to community schools through a portion of Foundation Aid.
Decreases to expenses include administration, which is down $294,000, and transfer to capital, which is down $2,100,000. There is also a decrease of $1,130,000 on debt service.
The expenses include $186,581,100, or 69.23% of the budget, for programs, which includes salaries and benefits of teachers. An additional 22.16%, or $59,558,630, of the budget is allocated to capital, which includes construction and operating costs. Administrative expenses make up 8.61% of the budget and total $23,142,760.
To support the proposed 0% tax levy increase, the budget will be balanced using restricted reserves. Major capital projects will also be paused for the year. While reserves are very low, the district is owed $11.7 million from the city in taxes that should have been collected prior to the 2020-2021 school year. The district will also work to acquire state aid to support that shortfall.
There will be public budget presentations on April 26 and May 9. The Board of Education is scheduled to adopt the proposed budget on Friday, April 21. The public budget hearing is on May 2 at the Education Center. The budget vote will be on May 16.
Principals throughout the district set up tables with brochures highlighting the District’s accomplishments at the Mount Vernon High School cafeteria to showcase their school for potential applicants during the Mount Vernon City School District Community Fair on Thursday, April 18, 2024.
Secondary students in the Superintendent’s Advisory Council stood in front of the room and showed off their leadership skills during their presentations on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Each student was given a scenario where they would need to lead, and they presented the methods they would use to reach their goal.
Cheers erupted with every basket made in the Mount Vernon High School gym, as students with disabilities from Mount Vernon High School and Woodlands High School competed in a game of basketball on Tuesday, April 16, 2024. The game was held through the New York State Pioneer League, which provides students with disabilities the opportunity to play on a team.
The winners of the Mount Vernon City School District “Biggest Loser” challenge gathered around the Education Center with smiling faces, holding their plaques and checks during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
Another friendly face took place as superintendent of the Mount Vernon City School District for a day on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Dr. Colleen Seivright-Crawford, principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy, fulfilled the position of superintendent for Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith’s “Superintendent for a Day,” series. In exchange, Dr. Smith served as the principal at Mount Vernon Leadership Academy.
The annual Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance hosted by the Mount Vernon PTA Council was a night filled with music, laughter, celebration and a strong sense of community. The event, held on Friday, April 12, 2024, not only raised money to provide scholarships to seniors from all four high schools in Mount Vernon, but also celebrated the accomplishments of 20 exceptional individuals within the District.
Dear PTA Council,
Thank you for hosting the wonderful Edith Kaplan Scholarship Dinner Dance last week. I am always happy to see the amazing faculty and staff in Mount Vernon schools be recognized, and I am so grateful for the money raised to support our graduates.
Click here to view the remainder of the letter from Acting Superintendent Dr. K. Veronica Smith