Tuxedo voters approve school budget with a 78 percent majority

TUXEDO - Less than 300 voters decided the fate of the Tuxedo School District’s 2011-2012 budget on Tuesday. But a decisive 78.35 percent of them voted in favor of the $16,449,304 budget, which comes with a 1.98 percent tax levy to residents. Interim Superintendent Carol Lomascolo said district officials cannot recall a recent budget vote where the number of residents who went to the polls was so small. Nonetheless, she added, it was very gratifying to see the voting results of 228-63. “I’m pleased because this was a very fiscally responsible budget and also an educationally sound one,” she said. “I’m pleased the community recognized and supported that.” Despite a 5.14 percent reduction, or $47,637 less, in state aid and the need to close a $672,000 gap, Lomascolo has acknowledged Tuxedo’s budget preparation wasn’t as challenging as area districts that were forced to have staff layoffs and program curtailments. However, the budget does include the reduction of a .4 FTE elementary teacher, which officials said equates to a less than part-time teaching position. To develop the now-approved budget, which is 1.05 percent less than the current school year’s budget, officials found $360,000 in savings tied into the composition of its special education students. The district also used $70,000 from its reserve accounts to fund the New York State Employee Retirement System (ERS) fund for non-teachers, to meet the increased, state-mandated contribution costs. Another $250,000 came from what officials called “belt-tightening” tied to the use of supplies and materials in the district. Like other districts, Lomascolo is already looking ahead at the 2012-2013 budget. “We believe budgets will continue to be difficult,” she said. “We have to look ahead to the future and look at how we can provide wonderful education with less money. How do we do things smarter and with less money?” As part of that, Lomascolo stressed the importance of its relationship with the Greenwood Lake School District, which contracts with Tuxedo to have its high school students attend George F. Baker High School. Both districts are in the third year of a five-year contract. Lomascolo said she expected conversations to begin soon. I’m pleased because this was a very fiscally responsible budget and also an educationally sound one. I am pleased the community recognized and supported that.” Tuxedo Interim Schools Chief Carol Lomascolo, talking about voters’ approval of Tuxedo’s 2011-12 school budget. By the numbers 2011-12 budget: $16,449,304 A 1.98 percent tax levy to Town of Tuxedo residents A 1.05 percent decrease over last year Tuxedo School Board voting results TUXEDO - Two Tuxedo residents - who are current members of the Tuxedo Board of Education - won re-election in an uncontested election on Tuesday. Joanne Vernon, who is the current Board of Education president, received 212 votes. Since she received the most votes, she has earned the three-year term beginning July 1 and running though June 30, 2014. Vernon began her first term of office in July 2008. Ed Gedvila, who was appointed to the board after the resignation of a board member earlier this year, received 205 votes. He has won the seat for an unexpired term due to that resignation, beginning immediately upon taking the oath of office through June 30, 2012. Board officers will be elected at the board’s reorganization meeting in July. - Nancy Kriz