East Ramapo Central School District Board Moves to Hold Budget Revote in June

M.C. Millman

After a budget vote on May 16, where the East Ramapo Central School District budget failed to pass by 45 votes, the ERCSD voted last night to hold a second vote as allowed by law rather than have to use a contingency budget for the upcoming school year.

The newly revised proposed budget's only change from May's proposed budget was the elimination of $3.3 million in new playgrounds and $342,403 in "equipment B&G.  and other" expenses leaving $6.3 million in proposed capital projects. 

The new proposed budget of $295,605.762 has a zero tax levy increase for the upcoming vote in June. This means there will be no increase in taxes, but the budget still has to be passed by the voters to allow the ERCSD several advantages over having to deal with a contingency budget. 

Harry Grossman, school board member, raised the question of the benefit of holding another election at the cost of $100,000 rather than just working with the contingency budget.

"It will help us avoid challenges and the constraints of a contingency budget," Dr. Clarence Ellis, ERCSD's Superintendent of Schools, clarified, explaining that a contingency budget will not allow repairs that aren't emergencies. This would include replacing gym floors, which, although not an emergency, is necessary, according to Ellis. Other constraints, such as staffing constraints and purchases, would make things challenging if there were a contingency budget.

The board also clarified that the $6.3 million would be covered by the tax levy should the budget pass in June rather than coming out of taxpayers' pockets with a contingency budget.

"This budget is tax cuts for every single taxpayer," Grossman shares with Rockland Daily. "Although there is a 15.28% increase in the budget, it will not cost taxpayers a penny more. We have more taxpayers now to share the burden, so despite the increase, taxpayers will actually pay less even though the budget is higher."

The impression at the conclusion of the meeting was that by passing the budget, ERCSD residents would be doing themselves a favor that will cost them nothing other than the time it takes to go out and vote but will reap tremendous benefits to taxpayers, school children, and the entire ERCSD community.