Roslyn voters passed the school district’s $102 million 2013-14 budget Tuesday, in addition to voting in favor of two district propositions pertaining to the board of education’s use of its capital reserve and its replacement of old buses, the Bryant Library budget and each of the trustee candidates on the ballot.
“We remain committed to the goals of educational excellence and budget restraint,” Roslyn Superintendent of Schools Dan Brenner said in a statement. “We are as determined as ever to introduce instructional innovations that benefit the community’s children, but to do so in a way that does not adversely impact taxpayers. It is very gratifying that Roslyn’s voters continue to recognize these efforts.”
The $102 million budget represents a 2.63 increase in spending from last year and a 2.11 percent increase in its tax cap, falling within the state-mandated figure.
The tax levy was reduced by the use of reserve funds and the elimination or reassigning of some teachers at the elementary level due to a decrease in enrollment, school officials said.
According to the budget overview, the largest increases in the budget result from teacher and employee retirement pensions, employee health benefits, and workers compensation.
In passing Proposition 3, voters have granted the board the authority to use $4,062,000 from capital reserve funds that have already been set aside to continue the school district’s capital improvement program.
“Most of them are safety issues, some curbing repairs in the school area and others, but many of them are related to structural things within the facilities, so in allowing the moneys to be released, we can get started on those things sooner,” said Trustee Bruce Valauri, who led an exploratory committee to determine the priority of the district’s capital project needs. Valauri and Steven Litvack, each incumbent trustees, were re-elected to full three-year terms Tuesday, earning 601 votes and 595 votes, respectively.
Newcomer David Dubner, who previously served the district’s Citizens Audit Advisory Committee, earned 588 votes and will finish the two-years remaining on the term of former Trustee Dani Kline, who resigned from the board at its April 4 meeting.
“I’m very happy to have the opportunity to serve again,” Valauri said. “I’ve known David since he was part of the advisory committee and he comes to almost every board meeting that we have, so I welcome his participation and welcome Steven back as well, so I think we’re all looking forward to working together.”
Dubner told Blank Slate Media a few weeks ago that his professional experience as a former accountant and lawyer, in addition to his current position as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs, will contribute to what he called the district’s “prudent financial planning” that the board has maintained in recent years.
“One thing I’ve learned about school boards, from the outside looking in, is that it’s important to remember we’re trying to make the school district the best it can be,” Dubner said. “Community building begins with our schools, and I want to partner with students, teachers, administration and the broader Roslyn community to ensure our schools are a beacon for other districts to follow.”
Valauri had just completed his first term on the school board, while Litvack won a special election last October to fill the seat of former Trustee Stanley Stern, who resigned from the board last July.
The second proposition, titled Proposition 4, approved the lease or purchase of five buses to replace older ones that are no longer road-worthy for the transportation of students.
In years past, the acquisition of school buses was included as a regular line in the school budget. However, leasing companies now require specific voter approval for such transactions.
The library’s $4,895,209 budget also passed, marking a 1.82 percent rise in spending from last year in addition to a 1.98 percent tax cap increase.
