Mount Vernon BOE Approves Near $252M Schools Budget, Vote Set For May 15

The Mount Vernon Board of Education has approved a near $252 million budget for the upcoming year, with Westchester County’s lowest tax rate increase for homeowners.

Mount Vernon Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton addressing the Board of Education and community.
Photo Credit: *Contributed*

Zak Failla

04/19/2018 3:55 p.m.

School officials announced that the Board of Education has approved the proposed $251,979,860 budget for the 2018-19 school year, representing a .89 percent tax rate increase, the lowest in Westchester or Putnam, and the first tax rate increase since Schools Superintendent Kenneth Hamilton took the helm in 2014.

The spending plan is $5.8 million (2.36 percent) more than last year’s budget, and includes staff, programs and capital improvements that “will keep the district moving toward the goals set forth in the Superintendent’s 20/20 Vision for Academic Excellence,” according to school officials.

Improvements proposed in the budget include the addition of five pre-kindergarten classrooms, including staff. Facilities, safety upgrades, a restoration of the Edward Williams and Columbus schools and a renovation of the Mount Vernon High School Culinary Arts kitchen. It will also continue the district’s transition to a pre-K through eighth-grade model.

The budget will now be put to a public vote on May 15. Presentations from the district can be found here.

Click here to follow Daily Voice New Rochelle and receive free news updates.