ERCSD Budget Vote Today

by M.C. Millman 

ERCSD will hold a repeat budget vote today on the revised budget, as reported by Rockland Daily here 

The revised budget’s proposed tax levy increase was lowered to 1% for the re-vote after the original budget was voted down on May 21, as reported by Rockland Daily here.  Voters are being asked to approve a $331.9 million spending plan for 2024-2025. The new budget uses fewer reserve funds as part of the funding is coming from tax levy increase. Even if the tax levy is voted down, the budget will still be $331 million.  The only thing that changes is whether the district uses $19.5 million in reserves or $21 million

"It's not a budget that is sustainable," an observer at the May 30 ERCSD budget meeting shared with Rockland Daily. "They are going to be hiring using reserves this year, but what are you going to do next year? Are you going to fire everybody? If New York State wasn't short-changing our school district for 20 million dollars every year, we wouldn't be in this position."

Today's vote will end at 9:30 p.m.