sound financial management and taxes

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We must make sure that our students have all the resources they need to excel, including technology, supplies, physical space and the best teachers and staff. But we also need to be judicious in how we spend taxpayers’ money. 

It’s no secret that Westchester County consistently is home to one of the highest median property tax bills in the United States. And unfortunately, there is usually only one way these tax bills go and that’s up, which impacts us all – especially those on fixed incomes, including our valued retirees and senior citizens.  

The Ossining Board of Education and district administration are to be commended for negative tax rate for the 2022-2023 budget. I would support a zero percent, flat tax levy if adopted in the 2023-2024 budget.

I’d also like to extend my gratitude to those who waged a long, hard fight to secure the eventual 100% funding of Foundation Aid for our district. 

While we are currently fortunate to have solid funding, we should have a careful but not overly conservative rainy day plan – and be mindful that any programming and services we add now should be central to improving academic outcomes with clearly defined objectives continually measured by data.

If elected, I would make taxes and sound financial management one of my top priorities during my Board term by: 

• Holding tax rates as close to 0% as possible based on current and future funding levels, making sure the District is always on solid financial footing with sufficient reserves
• Continuing the expansion of public-private school district partnerships and proactively pursue grants
• Emphasizing the use of data to pilot and assess discretionary school initiatives that show successful quantitative results – and move to reallocate funds away from those that don’t 
• Supporting the expansion of the green energy plan