Mount Vernon School District Public Budget Hearing Tuesday

MOUNT VERNON, NY — The final public hearing on the proposed 2021-22 budget and Candidate Statements for the Mount Vernon School District will be held on May 4 at 6pm in the Mount Vernon High School Cafeteria.

The meeting will detail the spending plan for the upcoming school year. The proposed budget is $259,601,834, with a 0 percent increase over the 2020-21 spending package.

“We have been very cognizant of the extraordinary impact on individuals in our community who are unemployed or underemployed,” Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton said in a statement asking voters to approve the budget. “However, in order to put the District in the best position possible for long range planning, this budget proposes a 0.5 percent tax levy increase.”

The school board says the proposed budget will allow Mount Vernon schools to maintain current staffing rates as well as to meet state-mandated special education requirements.

There are several special budget line items, including funding for programs unique to the school district:

• a new dual language Kindergarten pilot program
• expand the engineering courses available through Project Lead the Way (PLTW)
• library media specialist in every school
• Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) programs

“It is unprecedented in our state, and perhaps even our nation, that a District proposes six budgets in eight years with a zero percent increase in the tax levy, yet that is exactly what we have done during my administration,”Hamilton said.“However, we recognize the negative impact that has had on our reserve funds and must correct our trajectory to continue offering the highest level of education possible for students in our community.”

Members of the public may view the final budget meeting on Facebook or on the district website.

The annual budget vote and board election will be on May 18. Exact polling locations can be found here. Information on absentee voting can be found here.