001Heat. Heat. [music] down. Hey Oh, [music] what [music] >> [music] [music] >> What you see? I do not know. on the 2026 2027 school revote budget. Today is Tuesday, June 9th, 2026. Please stand for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. This evening's public hearing is on the proposed 2026 2027 school budget totaling $275,542,563 and will result in a 1.5% change in the tax limit. I'm going to open the floor now for comments on their proposed budget. I'm going to call from the list of people who signed up first and then we'll open the floor for anyone else who has anything to say. You will have two minutes to speak with one
002additional minute to wrap up your thoughts. Thank you. Our first person is Donna Jackson. Latoya Anderson. >> Can you put the clock up, please? >> Thank you. Good evening everyone. >> My name is Attorney Anderson and I'm here today on behalf of the Mount Vernon PTA council. Um last week the councils of PTAs, that's all the officers in um Mount Vernon City School District PTAs, we met and we all decided um to take a position on the budget. Uh everyone voted. Well, it was unanimous to support this year's budget. And this is the reason why we are supporting the budget. The PTA council is supporting the budget because we believe it prioritizes the well-being of children by fully funding essential programs like sports, music, art, and after school activities. We also believe it addresses the
003urgent academic needs of students by providing targeting support including math support specialists and the bilingual director for over 600 ELA students. Furthermore, we also believe that the budget aligns with the recommendation of the state monitor who we currently have and whose expert oversight ensures the plan is fiscally sound. sustainable and trustworthy. We also think that passing this budget is critical because you know its failure could result in cut in staff of course which will eventually impact the quality of education our children deserve and it will eliminate essential after school programs such as the gifted and talented program. Um, a few years ago, individuals campaigned for a 0% tax increase and urged residents to vote against the budget. The rationale that was presented was that um it's due to the substantial COVID 19 relief funds that
004our district received. So, we had a lot of money from the COVID 19 fund and there was no need to raise taxes. Um, as a homeowner, I certainly didn't want to pay more. So, I along with many other residents in Mount Vernon voted against the budget. Unfortunately, the budget was rejected and there was no tax increase for several years. The consequences of this decision were significant. A couple years later, the New York State controller deser um declared Mount Vernon to be in significant financial distress. We also had school closing, three schools as a matter of fact, and we also had the appointment of the state monitor to oversee our district. Now we find ourselves in similar situation. Individuals do not want this budget to pass because they don't want to pay more taxes. Just a
005second. So I am here I urge all to please consider the lessons from our past. Mount Vernon, let's not make the same mistake again. Please vote yes on the school budget on June 16, 2026. Thank you. [clears throat] Thank you [applause] Jackson. Good evening. What do we want this community to be? How do we invest in our kids? Who am I willing to be a voice for or to carry water for? I don't want to stand here and argue. numbers. I want to ask a different question. What do we want this community to be? I'm asking. I'm a daughter of this city, Mount Vernon High School, class of 1987. Mount Brennan schools helped raise me and then the district helped raise my two girls and send them into the world ready. So, when I think
006about that question, what do we want this community to be? It is an abstract. I'm clear. I want this district to be a place that supports administrators and teachers who spark a love of learning and curiosity. Teachers like Laura Cotay who inspired my love of reading and history educators like Dr. Sproul who made it possible for me and other students to travel to West Africa. I want us to be able to attract skilled teachers like bargaining sages who took my firstborn daughter by the hand on her first day of prek and made that first separation experience peaceful for both of us. Francis Lits Bren Smith division Eian Scott. There are far too many names for me to lift up and I'll get myself in trouble if I'm forgetting someone. I understand everyone's hesitation on the
007taxes. My family feels every dollar or two. In a black and brown city inside a wealthy county, no one should pretend that asking for more is a small thing. It isn't. That worry is real and it deserves respect. So, let me ask the harder question underneath it. How do we want to invest in our kids? and what happens to the future of this community that decides it can't afford to or that zero is enough because here's what we already know over 10 years we raised our taxes less than a third of what planes and Michelle and Pelum has raised theirs we asked our schools to do more with less than everyone else around us and they did the highest graduation rate in 25 years kids at Harvard Howard and Virginia State University my alma mater
008and certified in trades and careers that didn't happen by accident and won't continue without fiscal support. The economists are blunt about this. A dollar invested in a child early comes back 6, 10, and 17 times over. Or it comes back later at a cost in courtrooms and lost potential. We pay either way. The only choice is whether we pay it forward or pay for the damage. So, I ask each of us quietly. When my neighbor's child can't vote for her own future, am I willing to be her voice or carry waters carrying water for those who don't give a damn about you or the children of this community? And when I ask you what you believe about the potential of our children, what will your answer be? There's a second vote coming and this community
009[music] to speak up for the 6,500 children in our district who need to be educated and given the opportunity to be competitive. Our children are counting on us to decide who we are and who they will be. I already know their word. [applause] All right. Good evening everyone. We got two minutes. Not two. Thank you. Okay. Good evening everyone. >> This is public hearing, right? Yeah. I see public hearing. Okay. So, uh in regards to our reboot, I understand that people will not always agree with the board. That's healthy. Debate is healthy. Accountability is healthy. But disagreement should never replace facts. And opinion should never replace evidence. A community cannot solve its problems if we cannot first agree on reality. And the reality is that for several consecutive years, this district has had 0% tax
010levy increase. That is one of the things that has brought us to where we are now. I like to keep things lame and simple this way. I know everybody understand we run our household. If we don't deposit money in our checking account, how can we write out checks that won't bounce to pay our bills in the home? We as property tax owners, home property uh tax owners property homeowners, if we want to our home to maintain its value or increase its value, we must invest in our home and that investment requires money. Whether it be paint, leaders, gutters, roofing, etc. I am a mother of seven children. God rest my late husband's soul. When he passed, how our system is set up, my widow survivor's pension did not increase. It did not stay the same.
011It decreased. Meanwhile, my mortgage and other bills did not decrease. They stayed the same. And because of cost of living, they increase. So, I'm saying to each and every taxpayer, homeowner, and especially to our parents who have children that are utilizing the service in the school district, come out and vote on Tuesday, May 6, excuse me, Tuesday, June 16th. If people complain now about not having after school programs or not having services, wait until you get the austerity budget. There are people who this budget directly impact are our children and our staff. I love our staff. I support our staff and many of them know that. However, they can go somewhere else and get jobs. Our children, they cannot go somewhere else and get an education. At the end of the day, it's not mine.
012It's not yours. It's theirs. We have our high school diplomas. We have our college degrees. [music] Give them a chance to get theirs. Thank you, [applause] [applause] >> Carlen Evans. >> Good evening everyone. So today I'm here to talk about our journey to get to what matters most to most of us to all of us our children. Mount Vernon families deserve a budget not only that not only asks for more of our tax dollars but also clearly show how do those dollars will improve student outcomes. While the district is seeking a 1.5 tax levy increase, the documents provided offer no measurable plan or um no academic strategy or no return on the investments tied to additional revenue to the additional revenue. The budget presentation highlights what the district hopes to protect, but it does not
013explain what will actually improve. There are no targets for literacy, math, attendance, safety, or graduation beyond the goals already set for the current year. There is no explanation of how new spending will move the needle for students in 2026 through 2027. At the same time, the district faces declining declining enrollment, rising charter school cost, and decreased aid this uh New York State A despite the fact that we are a high need district. Nowhere in the budget discussion is there a strategy to stabilize enrollment, win students back, or address the financial pressures caused by shrinking student counts. Without a plan, the district is set to continue managing decline instead of reversing it. The bottom line is this. [snorts] The district is asking taxpayers to pay more without showing how students will get more. A budget must
014our budget must connect dollars to outcomes. When we are able to connect the dollars to a measurable plan and positive outcomes, the community will start to see the value behind any increase. I'm asking our leadership to develop a real strategy to stabilize and grow enrollment and make our school district top choice for our residents. Sh. I'm asking the our leadership to share with us a short-term and long-term academic plan to improve student outcomes starting with academic year 2026 and 2027. Without an enrollment plan and an academic plan, the district in my opinion cannot reverse the financial pressures caused by sugar students. Thank you. >> Thank you, Hol Marabel. Good evening. My name is Hope Marles in code 10592. I'm asking our community to support the proposed school budget which includes the 150% tax levy increase.
015No one enjoys paying more in taxes. As a homeowner, I certainly understand that as well. But we must also recognize that investing in our children is not an expense. It is an investment in the future of Mount Vernon. A 150% increase is modest, especially when compared to the rising cost that every family and organization is experiencing. Utilities cost more. Insurance, transportation, employee benefits cost more. Our schools are not immune to those same economic realities. The questions before us is not whether costs have increased because they have. It's also important to remember that school budgets cannot be evaluated fairly through a single statistic or talking point. Questions about enrollment, graduation rates, spending, and educational outcomes deserve thoughtful analysis, not sensational conclusions. For example, cost per graduate is not by itself a measure of educational quality, efficiency,
016or integrity. School districts defer significantly in their special education obligations, transportation costs, pension contributions, employee contracts, debt services, facilities expenses, and unique needs of each student that they serve. A higher cost does not automatically indicate waste, fraud, or mismanagement. Context matters. The question is whether we are willing to provide our students with the resources they need to succeed. This budget helps ensure that classrooms remain staffed, educational programs continue, student services are maintained, and our schools can meet the needs of all learners. It supports the academic, social, and emotional development of our children while preserving stability for families and employees alike. Just as important, this budget allows the district to move forward without drastic cuts that could negatively impact students. When budgets fail, the people who often feel the consequences most are the children sitting in
017our classrooms [clears throat] every day. As residents, we all benefit when our schools are strong. Strong schools help attract families, support property values, strengthen neighborhoods, and prepare the next generation of leaders, workers, entrepreneurs, and citizens. Tonight, I ask that we look beyond the cost and focus on the value. A 150% tax lean increase represents an investment in opportunity, achievement, and the future of our community. For those reasons, I respectfully encourage voters to support the budget and say yes. Thank you. [applause] Monae, hi. I didn't come here prepared with the standard, but I did have a question that I just thought that a lot of us wanted clarification on what at what point why did we have two superintendents? How much money were we actually spending? How much money was actually lost? And from what I
018understand, they were allegations that never um led to any actual um court um lawsuits or anything. And I never personally found out why we ever had two superintendent and what was the result of that. And I'm sure there's other people in the community that would like to know why we had two superintendents that we were paying for. [applause] >> Okay. We're not able to answer any questions, but someone will get back to you. Okay. Our next speaker this evening is Mark Stucky. 2 minutes is no time at all because I'm just standing here and asking the taxpayers to support the budget. Me personally, personally, I need an hour. You had people who came out and they talked about the budget. They talked about basically everything I wanted to talk about. The whole thing is of
019taxpayers listening. Remember this number 818 818 919. What's the difference? 100. There's a song that says I'm running to make 99 and a half more. Good. We only need 100 to come out. I'm going say two to pass the budget. In 2012, I sat on this board and we had what they call lobby day in 2012. and needed children to go to organ to lobby for funds. I got a phone call about 10:00 in the morning from a taxpayer, a resident applicator with North and they went up saying in these words, "I need your help." And I said, "What can I do?" Yiannis have three buses going to Aubrey and they going to need a lot of money. and Michelle have two buses and they're going to get a lot of money. I need your
020help. I says, "Okay, so what do you want me to do?" I need some people to go for both of you because we only have a half bus load of people going a half. So I turned around. I said, "Give me to 12:00. I'll have an answer for you. Please don't let me down." I [clears throat] ran around to every single school and I I ran around to every single school and I asked every single principal for help. One classroom from every single school. They asked me what was I going to do and I told them I'm going to need bodies. I want to bring the money home. So they want to give me a class from every single building. Every principal gave me one class. They said but we need authorization from the principal.
021I mean it's the superintendent. I said, "No problem. I'll get it." Dr. Billy Conroy was the superintendent at the time. I went to high. I laid out my case to her and [clears throat] I told her what I wanted to do. She says, "Okay, let me see." She went into a room with Miss Katus, who was here at the time. And they came back and they says, "You got it. Now we have to let the principles know." I said, "The principles are waiting for your email." The email went out. I called up the person who wind up asking me for help. And I says, "You have 110 children going to or don't play with me. Don't play with me." I said, "No, you have 110." So she wind up saying, "Look, I got to call
022up these people. I need to know is is this committed numbers?" I said, "They are committed." So she turned around, hung up. Next morning, we had 110 young people standing in front of the city hall. I went out personally and everybody always judging Mark Stucky. Don't judge me. I went out for 110 children, bought them breakfast. Don't judge me. And I fought when we got up to Albany. Our kids went to Albany, wind up sitting into the chambers and got the most respect that they can possibly receive at that time. >> Mr. Stein. >> Yes. You can just wrap. >> Thank you. >> You got 30 seconds. 30 seconds. We got a lot of other people ahead. That's why. >> All right. 30 seconds. >> So, what wind up happening is we brought home the
023money. >> If you want to know exactly the dollar figure approach, >> 2 million additional dollars to our two million additional dollars to our already budget that you already assigned to. >> Now, what wind up happening is Brenda Trump was the lady who called me up and asking for help. I stand here and I wind up saying that because we can do anything we want to do, but we wind up putting people [clears throat] in office who wind up destroying this district. We didn't have to throw close up these schools, >> Mrs. Ducky. Sorry, your time is up. We >> have >> Thank you. Thanks. So, please taxpayers come out to vote. We need you cuz it's going to hurt every [applause] floor now for anyone else who would like to come up and say
024anything. Just say your name. >> Good evening. My name is Williams. And I would really like to encourage ours to vote. I work with you and I always hear from parents. There is nothing for our kids to do. There is nothing for our kids to do. Well, let me tell you, I can tell you firsthand that the Mount Vernon Youth Hero has a lot for our kids to do. Let me also tell you that these things are free except for one program and that is the summer program. These things are free. So when we ask you to vote yes for the budget, I would really like to hear the reasons why you can't vote for the budget. When we ask you to vote yes for the budget, I would like for you to consider what
025happens if we don't vote for the budget. Someone said earlier we can either pay now $15 a month a cup of coffee >> even better even better $10. You can't spare $10 for the kids in this city. I don't care where you live. The north side, the south side, they're all our kids. So if we don't protect them now, if we don't invest in them now, what's going to happen 10 years from now when you're complaining, oh these kids are in the street and they're they're doing what they do >> on either side of the city, it's not going to hurt you. But to see our kids not having anything to do, not being able to prosper, not being able to meet their full potential, that could hurt you. Yes, >> that should hurt your
026heart. Thank you very much. [applause] >> Just state your name for me. >> Beth. >> Thank you. I didn't prepare anything and I'm going still deciding which way I'm going to go with this but I must say that I spent many many years in business right and P&L's you know they were part of our life and I think that what this a lot of people in Mount Vernon are looking for is clarity as as the the woman articulated before you know what are the KPIs that we're going forward what are our goals with the kids how are we going to take members burning school from here to here. My daughter went to Mount up in Kennington. She's only 24, so it wasn't all that long ago. I got to tell you, it's changed dramatically since
027we moved here 20 years ago. And I think that if there's more transparency, I mean, there's a lot of questions out there. Buildings closed. How come there's not a savings there? What was the savings when we when we closed the buildings last year and and we unfortunately had to let go of people? You know, is there $15 billion in surplus? because I think that that was at this last school board meeting. So I think we would all be we all want our kids to succeed. Trust me, all of them, north side, southside, but unless we can see some tangible information on where our money is going and is it being spent, it's not the $10 a month. It's the money that we have being spent to really better educate our kids and send them out,
028be able to prepare to send them out to the kids. That's all I'm saying. More transparency on all the fiscal questions that surround this budget would behoo all of us and probably get your budget passed. >> Will we see any more? >> There is a lot of information online. Um >> I I looked at some of it but you know was there money going to last year put into different lines? I I'll say those P&L games. I you know I know how it works and I know why it's not. >> So a lot of that information is also on the presentation that's been done um in the past. >> Thank you. But maybe before the vote if you publish it because everyone's on next door, everyone's on Facebook looking at all the things. If you
029publish it, bring the community in. I know. Don't you're looking at me like I'm out of my mind. That's where people get into trouble. That's, you know, >> we're not able to really answer your question deeply, you know. Um, but I have your name, right? Thank you. >> Right. But the votes next week, so the quicker you get out this information, it'll give people a solid yes or no what they want to do. from your house. >> All right. >> Good evening. This is the taxpayer right now. Um, my name is Nor. Details related to that supposed 1428 Wednesday been shared in the district site shared again. It's been shared on Facebook. Next door happens to be a pretty um pretty haphazard place. I've been on it. I I don't bother to stay. I don't
030frequent it often because it's just not a reliable source. people who are what I've seen is just so far from factual especially when the facts are available. So I also understand P&Ls. I understand how they work. But I understand that too. But let's just talk about this. Where did it get us? All right. So 7 years of zero tax increase and promises of candidates to stop mismanagement of funds, corruption, etc. Meanwhile, we have seven years of audits that call out the same material weaknesses and the same departments year after year with no resolve. Okay, that speaks to the people who were elected, what they promised us to get elected and the fact that what was really done would get us continuously voting for zero tax increase and those folks who were conveniently attached to zero
031tax increase. Be careful when you're being used something is being used as a vehicle for you to make a decision. If you put a zero tax increase, who wants who wants their money to go? Who wants to have to pay more? But when Con Edison hit us about a year or two back with this insane amount of percentage increase on all our cost to heat our homes and have electricity, we just dug in our pockets. We was like, "This is ridiculous." We dug in our pockets and we spent that extra$100, $200 every month. But for $14, now hell no. Now we throwing rocks stones, throwing chairs. I'm coming outside. I'm running on this. I'm talking a lot of everything about everybody about it. the information. This, let me just say this, I sat on this
032board since 2019. And what I did do before I threw stones was I learned. I learned that every last one of us has been disenfranchised and put in a dark in a corner on purpose. Left out of the conversation on purpose. And you know why? So that folks can jump up on social media and say their version. And we believe it cuz we don't know any better. and we won't bother to find out even when it's right in front of us. Now, that's not designed to be an insult. That's designed to just be facts. 1,800 votes, 6,500 students. Make that math make any math sense to me. It does not. You didn't come out to vote for the budget. Whether you said yes or no, you didn't come out at all. You didn't help. That's
033all there is to it. I came from this district. My children come from this district. I'm graduating the student next week, one of my babies. All right. I am a product of them. Proud of this district and what it's done. I'm proud of the partnership between the city and and the school district that we're finally now seeing work cohesively for once after years of it being driven a wedge in between so that we would not work together, wouldn't talk together. We lost nurses and teachers and this has been going on for years. We've been shorting our nurses for years. I got people sitting in the room that know this. We haven't had enough nurses in every building. We're fluent doing this and doing that. sharing APS between buildings, making ends meet. You don't tell me
034that I had to pay a bill from last year with my money, my paycheck. I'mma finish right here. You can't tell me it's realistic to say, "Take your paycheck from just now and pay a bill from last year and now ignore your bill that's coming up next week and every bill after it." If you think that's realistic and we're talking about educating kids and it makes sense, then do what you feel. But I'm telling you now, it shouldn't make any sense. Listen, if you care at all about anything in this district, you send your kids to private school, that's your option. What about the ones that don't have an option and they're relying in this district for all of their babies for all these years? Thank you. >> Thank you. [applause] >> Do you have
035anyone else? Please say a good afternoon everyone. all the reasons that's been stated so far in terms of why the budget should pass. Notwithstanding, I want to take it just a little bit deeper as to if the budget does not pass and extracurricular activities are cut. How is that going to affect your children? >> They don't care. The children are the ones that's going to suffer. >> The parents, you're going to suffer, too. >> Because if you lose your job, how you going to support your family? >> If your children don't have an extracurricular activity to attend, you have to answer child childcare issues. That also puts our young people on the streets, additional [clears throat] issues. >> That's what's going to attack not just the pockets of the city is also going to tax
036you because now you have to worry about how am I going to afford childare? Child care in this country takes up about 75% of our earnings, particularly people of color. So when you don't have an afterchool program, when you don't have those CTE programs for for your child to come out of school and have a trade, that's going to affect your pocket. No, you don't have to own a house. Trust me, if you don't own a house, you live in an apartment, you pay taxes. It's factored into your rent. >> Okay? So you are paying taxes, >> but my point is the children are going to suffer. If you're about the children, pay tax. >> Y [applause] I'm good. I'm good. I don't I don't need labor the point. I'm good. Sorry. Ju just quickly
037uh I was listening on my way up here and I heard one of the speakers say that there might be more support if there was a uh strategic plan uh an improvement plan. There is. So the claim that there isn't is simply false. Okay. Go to the website [applause] through 2030. So there is a comprehensive and approved strategic plan there. Claims to the contrary are false. >> Right. Thank you. [applause] >> Hi, my name is Sheila Solomon. I'm a Mount Vernon resident, born and raised here, a lifelong resident of Mount Vernon, and also work for the district. I have never seen anybody um a superintendent that went through the budget and tried to clear up things as um Dr. Strickland has done. He has had several meetings. I've attended several of them where he's explained
038everything. He had a plan in place and he's explained that in depth, answered questions and everything like that. I have never seen that. I don't have any children, haven't worked any children. But I do know I care about the children on my block, the children in my neighborhood, the children that go to my church. And if we don't support them and help them, then we can't complain later on when we have problems in our neighborhoods, when we have problems. [applause] If we don't invest in them now, we can't complain later cuz it'll be our fault. And I encourage everybody please to go out and vote for the budget. Thank you. [applause] >> Hi, I'm Susan Bennett, president of Mount um with one simple statement. If this budget is defeated again, everybody will save $15 a
039month. But 6,500 children in our school system will lose everything that makes this school the most beautiful place for them to be. And I've worked in the school system over 40 years and I know what this school is about. Thank you. [applause] >> Okay, I hadn't prepared and I didn't. I want to say good evening everybody. That's what he meant to me. So, I just want to say as a testament that in 2022, I went to two interest meetings and the two interest meetings were the side that call us scammers at the district. You would know better because it's who you are. And the reason why I know it's who you are cuz I sat in your meetings where you wanted me to be on the board to attend to the agenda and the plan
040that you have now that you had back then. So, you're back. And let me tell you something as a testimony. I went to two meetings and I said, "Nope, I can't do this with y'all." And I ain't going to tell you who y'all are. You know, I know who you are. But you invited me to the meetings. And when I got to two meetings and I got there and I listened and I observed who was in the meetings and I listened to what you said, that was just in jail with me. And when you got my picture, I said, "Never mind. I'm going to put my picture up and I probably going to have time to say what I really want to say cuz I am I'm Bishop Dr. Lyn Middleton and I am a
041preacher. So you got my preacher voice. But anyway, I I I went to those meetings and I gave you my picture. You're listening if you are and you're here if you are getting ready to join us up there if you are. Okay, >> I'm going keep it real. >> I'm keep it real. And you know what? When I was in those meetings, I said do not put my picture up there with you guys. Why? cuz I said God said no. That's not who you roll with. And let me tell you something. We community, if you're listening to me, we better vote for this budget. Cuz the people that don't want you to vote for it, don't have kids here, don't care. I'm trying to figure out what else do you have to do >> besides
042what you're doing to want to take property >> to want to take the district, to want to take city hall, to want to take the library. >> And I've been here all my life. So I know I ain't just been here 10 years, Miss Evans. >> Let me tell you something. So as somebody who stood firm for transparency, accountability, what I believe is right for these students, I can say with confidence that supporting the budget is about what is doing what is doing what's necessary and not what is convenient. >> The Bible reminds us that we should not be weary and welloing for in due season >> we shall reap if we not. Let me give you five strong words. We reap what we sow. >> You might get away now when you get by
043now, but you ain't going to get away. >> And it might not come to you. It might come to somebody that you know. >> And so I'm going to say to this community, vote for the budget. I don't care what the other side, the small group of negative rhetoric is saying. >> Our children matter. I got [laughter] kids and nieces and nephews in this district, and it matters in my heart. I'm grieving tonight cuz my sister, but I'm grieving at the fact that all of us, we can't do what we should do by our kids, >> right? >> And then the other folk do it and we scratch our head. >> Okay, good. But we can't come together. >> Go ahead. >> All right. [applause] Last call. Anyone else? >> Please sing with me. My
044name is Jan Alvaranga and I am a resident of Mount Veron. I attended Mount Vernon High School and I also have two kids in Mount Vernon district. Now, I just have to say I've heard so many things about transparency and accountability. I'm 100% for that. But I have an issue when you ask for that transparency and accountability and then you don't show up to meetings because I've been to several of those budget meetings and I would tell you the faces that's been there less than 10 fingers how many people actually showed up and the ones that I seen on social media and heard complaining they have I haven't seen one of them but instead they're sitting on social media and they're spreading all this false information. If you truly want credibility and really want to
045know what's going on and uplift this community, then look at the information. Look at the facts because then you have ulterior motives. And the question is, what is your real motive? Now, it should be about our kids and very shortsighted because you're not thinking about your future. Yes, you have you don't have kids in the district cuz that's what I've noticed in the pattern. But guess what? You're a homeowner, which you so wully talk about. But what's your about your property value when you dismantle the school district? We have young people are not moving in the city and they may not choose to move in the city and put their kids in this district because at the end of the day the school district matters. It matters for your property value. So if you don't
046care about the kids and you care so much about whatever else you think, think about your property value. Well, >> and as I said, as a parent and as a graduate from this district, and I've said this before, I've done very well. Um, very well, I must say. I'm not going to get into that cuz I don't have enough time, but as a reminder, our kids are our future. They're our future doctors, our future lawyers, future planner. We need our CTE program. And you cannot not raise taxes and think it's okay when everything else is getting increased. It's $10 a month. I'm a property owner. I own multiple properties in Mount Vernon. I will be paying more. Three times the amount. But does it matter? No. Because there's a greater good. You have to look
047out for your community. Look out for the kids and think about your entire community and stop being selfish. [applause] At this time, if we have no one else, I am going to ask for Mr. Tom Scapley to please come to the microphone. >> Good evening everybody. Uh for those of you that don't know me, my name is Tom Scapley. I am uh one of the attorneys for the school district. I've been asked to just explain to you uh in very general terms what happens on a contingency budget. Uh so um >> Mrs. Hello. Hello. Got to get closer. Uh, I've been asked to talk to you about a contingency budget and what that looks like. So, I I will say that there are two basic types of restrictions on a contingency budget. The first is
048is a financial restriction. Uh and and what that really means is there are limits on the amount of money that the capital of excuse me that the uh administrative portion of the budget uh can can uh contribute to that total budget uh under a contingency budget and there's also a tax levy uh limit under uh on a contingency budget. So that there's these two financial components and then there's also uh a a a restriction on the type of expenses that the district is allowed to acquire or the types of goods and services that a district can acquire under a contingency budget. So the budget has to comply with both of those aspects. It has to comply with the financial aspects and it has to comply with the uh the ordinary contingent spent aspect of it
049budget. So with respect to the financial uh the financial restrictions the there there are two right so we've got this administrative component of the budget uh a school budget is made up of of three factors it's the program portion of the budget the capital portion of the budget and the administrative portion of the budget and there is a limit on the amount of money uh that that uh administrative portion of the budget can um can make up. So what the district has to do is is calculate the percentage of the administrative portion of the budget to the total budget excluding the capital component. So when you look at the the program uh component of the budget and the administrative component of the budget for last year and you figure out what that percentage is and
050then you look at the uh administrative component of the budget compared to the program component of the budget for the budget that was just defeated and whichever one has a lower administrative percentage. Uh that's your limit. That's what has to happen and the board is not allowed to expend any more uh money towards the the administrative component of the budget under a contingency budget. And basically that is a long-winded way of saying that uh on a contingency budget the district is not allowed to just cut uh facilities. It can't just cut your your capital costs and it can't just cut your program cost. Has to cut costs across the board. That includes the industry. The other restriction, the other financial restriction is simply just a a tax levy uh uh increase uh prohibition against a
051tax levy increase. So whatever your tax levy was last year uh same amount, it's a 0% increase on a contingency budget. So those are two of your financial uh restrictions. [clears throat] The other aspect is the ordinary contingent expense. Really what that means is there are restrictions on the types of goods and services that school districts can buy uh while it's under a contingency budget. There are hundreds. I'm not going to go through all of them right now, but suffice it to say that uh all of your collective bargaining agreements, your your contracts with your teachers, your custodians, your your cafeteria workers, uh the district is allowed to continue to make all of those expenditures under a contingency. the district can uh comply with all legal obligations. So it can it can pay judgments. It
052uh it's has to pay its debt service. It has to pay uh any contracts. If the district has existing contracts with consultants or outside providers, things of that nature, it is allowed to pay those uh those contracts because those are existing contractual obligations. There are certain restrictions on the types of consultants uh that the district can hire under contingency budget. The district is allowed, I've heard it said around here, the district is allowed to expend money on extracurricular activities. Uh it can spend money on on your uh athletic programs and field trips and things of that nature. Um the district can spend money on obviously utilities, uh water, electricity, power, heating, oil, all of those things. Uh there are certain things a district can't spend money on. It can't invest in new equipment. Uh it
053can't provide supplies for children. It can provide some instructional supplies and teacher supplies. It is not allowed to purchase supplies for children. Uh so there are a lot of different uh requirements. the the district cannot make uh non-essential repairs or capital costs uh under a contingency budget. The only capital expenses you're really allowed to make are for essential expenses for you know if you got a leaky roof or things like that, the board obviously can can make those repairs. Um so again, there are some nuances to to all those different expenses. Uh I I think just that the general understanding is that I think that that 0% increase really comes into play because when all the other expenses go up, uh if you're not allowed to raise your your tax levy, then the only way
054to satisfy your budget is to start cutting services. Uh unless you can get more money, as Mr. Sucky said uh if you can get more statements federal revenue then that's really the only way you can maintain programs but basically with all your expenses going up um if you if you can't increase your tax levy uh you have to cut programs and then it's up to the the board and the district to decide what program [clears throat] >> thank you [applause] >> so once again I'll presents that the proposed $275,542,56 school vote budget will be voted on by residents on Tuesday, June 16th, 2026. Polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. You can find a complete list of polling sites on the district website. Please also note that if you voted at Honor Academy,
055your new polling location is at Lincoln School located at 170 East Lincoln Avenue. And if you voted at Parker School, your new polling area is Rebecca Turner Academy located at 625749. For information on rolling, contact the district clerk at 9146655. Please come out and vote. This concludes the public hearing. Thank you.