Scarsdale School Budget Voted Down

UPDATE: Now that the Scarsdale school budget has failed, it will go to a second vote June 18. The district must decide whether to make changes to the budget by June 3, in effect, beginning the budget process over again.

Scarsdale's proposed schools budget was voted down Tuesday.
Photo Credit: *File*

by Brian Donnelly

05/21/2013 11:20 p.m.

The school district update board election vote totals as follows:

Suzanne Seiden - 2,318 William Natbony - 2,270 Leila Shames Maude - 2,315

SCARSDALE, N.Y. – The Scarsdale School District's $145.3 million budget failed to get a majority of votes Tuesday, according to unofficial election results.

The 2013-2014 budget exceeded the tax cap, requiring a supermajority of 60 percent approval. However, 1,720 residents voted no, compared to 1,502 residents who voted yes.

The budget raises the total amount of taxes collected from the community 3.91 percent, exceeding the allowable tax levy by $600,854.

The administration and board reduced the original proposal of a 4.15 percent tax levy increase by finding $290,000 in efficiencies the same night they adopted the budget April 23. Board members expressed concern at that meeting that the budget might not pass if the tax levy number was above four percent.

The three candidates for the board of education were all uncontested. Incumbent Susan Seiden received an unofficial tally of 2,218 votes. Newcomers William Natbony and Leila Shames Maude received 2,315 and 2.270 votes respectively.

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