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MONTROSE, N.Y. Hendrick Hudson School Board went forward with a proposal for $25 million in capital improvements to the district. The proposal was approved unanimously at Wednesday nights meeting, and will go up for public vote on Dec. 14.
For nearly three hours, school board members and citizens commented on the contested bond proposal. While the vast majority of the dozen senior citizens in attendance were opposed to the approval of the bond proposal, many supporters cheered on the school board.
Its hard for a lot of us to stay in the Town of Cortlandt in our retirement, said Maureen Masters, who was present with her husband, adding, My school taxes are double my town taxes.
Peter Marra, who works in finance in Manhattan, and is the president of the Cortlandt National Little League, said tough economic times, requires you to be prudent, it doesnt require you to be scared.
I get having no money, because Ive been laid off, said Cortlandt parent, Maggie Pinque. If we dont do this now, I fear for my grandchildren. Many of the supporters cited higher academic achievement with arts and athletic education.
Some of the most frequent complaints levied against the board by opposition, besides a tax increase, were the timing of the popular vote, that the proposal was not adequately publicized by the district, and that the quality of teaching rather than facilities should be most important.
For elderly people, you may have snow or sleet, said Regina Keef, about the December popular vote.
The school board defended that the bond had been adequately published, citing its strategic planning agendas over the past few years, and online meeting notifications. Superintendent Daniel McCann said the vote had been timed in December to allow the board time to plan the upcoming budget, due in spring.
One board member, Carson Jacobs, suggested the public cut back on luxuries. A lot of people buy six pound lobster and two bottles of wine, just dont, he said.
Barbara Pettersen, a former district teacher who said she lives on a fixed income, said, Im on a fixed income, as my husband is, and it is hard at times, adding, but we feel strongly enough about this to support it.
The bond proposal was unanimously approved by the board, 7-0. The total cost of the public vote will be $25,940,908. A protective fence surrounding the districts fields was added to the bond at the last minute, in response to recent vandalism. The cost of the additional fence was estimated at $169,500.
The latest estimate of individual tax increases given by the district was approximately $340 for the average homeowner in Cortlandt, and approximately $177 for the average homeowner in Peekskill, beginning in 2016. Those estimates do not include the addition of the protective fence, and will likely change.
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