WHITE PLAINS CITIZENETREPORTER 3,374,995 VISITS IN ONE YEAR—65,000 VISITS A WEEK BY 985,281 VISITORS

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WPCNR SCHOOL DAYS. May 11, 2009 UPDATED WITH MTA TAX REIMBURSEMENT CLARIFICATION FROM STATE, 12:55 P.M. UPDATED BY STATE, 3:10 P.M.: Superintendent of  Schools Timothy Connors, speaking in an exclusive WHITE PLAINS WEEK “Special Report” this week said he would have a final tally  tonight on the number of  positions the district would retain based on how many administrators and  service personnel eligible for retirement,  took the district’s one time offers of $25,000 and $10,000 “buyouts” in exchange for accumulated sick days.

 

Connors said thanks to retirements, attrition only 2.5 teachers would lose their jobs, and at this time only 11 Teaching Assistants (down from 24) would be cut with final tally due tonight.

 

The Superintendent said holding this year’s budget increase to 3/4 of a percent put the Board and the incoming Superintendent in good position if next year’s Contingency Budget increase is 0%, which is quite possible, in his opinion.

 

 

Breakfast with Tim Connors: Special Report: Tim Connors on WHITE PLAINS WEEK this morning at 8. The WPW Special Report may be seen at 8 AM all this week on the local cable access channels and worldwide, any time, on www.whiteplainsweek.com

 

He made the remarks on a Special Report Edition of White Plains Week dealing exclusively with the School Budget which can be seen all this week at 8 A.M. on Cablevision Channel 76 and Verizon FIOS Channel 45. It may also be viewed  any time, 24 hours a day right now at www.whiteplainsweek.com. Just click on “SPECIAL REPORT” with Windows Media Player

 

Here are the highlights:

 

 

In a wide range of topics, the Superintendent said the district decided not to cut the budget any farther, because further cuts would impact class size and the programs the district is accustomed to, but the budget prepares the district for an expecting low threshold of “contingency budget” next year.

 

Final $15 Million Infrastructure Improvements Necessary to get $6 Million in State Reimbursement

 

He said that the district decided to go ahead with completing the infrastructure improvements to schools using $15 Million more in borrowing this year, because otherwise the district would lose some $6 Million in state reimbursement for construction which would be paid for at the end of the project, meaning in essence the district is paying $15 Million plus interest to get back $6.6  Million from the state (in essence paying for the high school  Loucks Field artificial turf and stand renovation).

 

 

District can handle increasing birth rate. 

 

The Superintendent said that even though the birth rate in the city is growing,  that the new Post Road School could absorb increases at the elementary level, and that middle school and high school enrollments were expected to decrease. He said the city would not see a 1,000 student increase “for a long time.”

 

He said Highlands and Eastview Schools, despite being 70 years old would not need replacing in the years ahead, but Highlands would need replacement of science labs and windows.

 

How MTA Payroll Tax Reimbursement Happens Not Clear. 

 

Connors said that even though the state-enacted MTA Payroll Tax was said by the Governor’s Office will be reimbursed to the school districts, the district is still forced to collect it, and the state has not given the districts an indication how that money will be reimbursed, so the district is keeping it in the budget. He said the district has to collect it, how they get it back is not clear.  Connors said. “We’re wating for the state to tell us exactly what it (reimbursement) means.”

 

 

State Senator Vincent Leibell of  Brewster pointed out the lack of clarity as to how school districts would be paid back in a news conference Friday.  A call has been placed to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance by WPCNR, asking for clarification on how the money being collected on the MTA tax will be reimbursed, whether it will be given in the form of more state aid.

 

Susan Burns, with the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Press Office, told WPCNR Monday afternoon, that according to Part B of legislation S-5451, enacting the MTA Payroll Tax Bill, the text of which is not apparently available yet on the New York State Senate website, “the School Districts will be reimbursed commencing in June for MTA Payroll taxes paid from September 1, 2009 through April 30, 2010 and will be reimbursed for that sum in June, 2010.” Ms. Burns added that Governor David Paterson has promised to make an appropriation covering the reimbursement in the 2010-2011 state budget. Ms. Burns confirmed at 3:10 Monday afternoon  the MTA Payroll tax payments school districts collect for the state will BEGIN  to be collected September 1, 2009.  She said businesses, though must collect the tax retroactive to March 1,2009.

 

The Bill Enacted may be read at http://www.assembly.state.ny.us/leg/?bn=S05451&sh=t

 

Class Size Drives Budget

 

Connors said in defense of the school district refusing to cut more from the budget than they did allowing the incoming new Superintendent leeway in raising the budget next year,  that the City of White Plains community has always felt small class size was important, and to lower budget farther would compromise that, and that was why the budget was not lowered.  The budget in fact has increased slightly, 3/4 of 1%. 

 

Asked why positions weren’t simply not filled, Connors said that through the  community forums and talks with the community, the city was reluctant to increase class size and to leave positions vacant would require increases in class size, and “the board is not committed to do that.”

 

The Superintendent said that an improvement in the economy would help the school budget as well as a leveling off of certiorari settlements.

 

Predicts possible 0% Increase Allowed in Contingency Budget Allowed Next Year.

 

Connors commented about the situation newly hired Superintendent of Schools Dr. Christopher Clouet will face: “The steps taken here  (on the 2009-10 Budget) have been proactive and(the Board) made tough decisions that will enable him to move forward. The Contingency Budget next year could be a zero increase,  (and with a .75% increase this year), enable the Board and the new superintendent to make decisions (for 2010-11) that are educationally and fiscally sound.”

 

More Data on performance to come.

 

Asked if the additions of a new Manager of Data Processing and a second highly paid data executive last August would result in same-year reporting of district achievement results, Connors was noncommittal, saying report cards came from the state and they were two years behind. He said the district was in the process of implementing new software enabling the district to use the “Infinite Campus” program for performance reporting. Connors said it would be in place next fall and  “help us deliver more data across all aspects.”

 

 

For the last eight years, the Board of Education has complained about the district inability to report longitudinal studies of the grades, following their performance through each year. The district has demonstrated how each grade in a particular level performs annually but has never published clear indications of how one group of students performs year to year, though this can be done quite simply by using state statistics which the district has not done.

 

Middle School Scores Up

 

Connors pointed out the rise in achievement test scores in the White Plains Middle Schools hitting the 80% mark up from 50% a few years ago, crediting emphasis on the elementary school curriculum.

 

Hopes for Settlement of Teachers Contract by July 1

 

The Superintendent was optimistic on the Fact-Finding process now under way with the White Plains Teachers Association. He said every time the two sides talk they get closer together.

 

Asked why the district has already budgeted for an increase of about 3% for 09-10, why the contract had not been settled, the Superintendent said the settlement has been allowed for, and the contract would be negotiated so as not to exceed that.

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WPCNR PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE DAY. By the WPCNR Roving Photographer.May 9, 2009: The Annual Loucks games were in full swing today, and WPCNR’s Roving camera confirmed, that, yes, White Plains, the $104,000 scoreboard obtained for the newly renovated Loucks Field works just fine, recording track results with major league quality.

They’re Off! Athletes off an running at oneof the events Saturday at the annual Loucks Games at White Plains High School which featured the debut of the new $104,000 Scoreboard “track software.” Taxpayers can be reassured that it works like a $104,000 scoreboard should.

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WPCNR COMMON COUNCIL CHRONICLE-EXAMINER. By John F. Bailey. May 8, 2009 UPDATED WITH CLARIFICATION (IN ITALICS) 3:10 P.M. E.D.T.: Under close questioning by Councilman Tom Roach, Commissioner of  Finance Gina Cuneo-Harwood agreed with five of  7 members of the Council that undesignated fund balance should not be allowed to fall to $1 Million as proposed in the present city budget. Asked for how much fund balance she felt would be adequate she would not give a figure, admitting to Roach that operating in 2010-11 with only $1 Million in undesignated fund balance would be “difficult”. Councilmen Benjamin Boykin and Dennis Power said they would come up with “department-by-department” cuts over the weekend to trim $4 Million off the budget.

 

Paul Wood, Executive Officer for the Mayor, confirmed  to WPCNR that the city had entered into a private conducted binding arbitration with the White Plains Professional Fire Fighters. Joe Carrier, President of the WPPFF, confirmed this and said he expect an agreement by late next fall or by early 2010, (just in time for the new Administration).

 

Mayor Joseph Delfino during one sharp exchange between Councilman Tom Roach and Executive Officer Paul Wood, said, “I am not going to participate anymore in these budget discussions. There’s the budget. Do what you want.”

The council reviewed the report of the Budget and Management Committee and appeared to heed their advice to only use $5.4 Million of fund balance, and counter the looming $10 Million deficit in the Mayor’s budget with $2 Million in new revenues and $4 Million in cuts someplace, though the council did not give any suggestions. Councilman Benjamin Boykin declared at the close of the two hour meeting that he would be going through the budget and coming up with cuts department-by-department. Councilman Dennis Power said he would be doing the same.

 

Harwood, the finance commissioner, gave a ray of sunshine, saying the county had sent the city $890,000 in mortgage tax receipts for the third quarter (through March). The new figure, Ms. Harwood told WPCNR Friday afternoon meant that she felt would bring $2.3  Million in mortgage taxes in 09, instead of the $3.9 in mortgage tax budgeted. (The figures were misheard during the meeting by this reporter because the meeting was not conducted with microphones.)She did caution however that $450,000 in sales tax in the last quarter of2007-2008 that balanced the last fiscal year budget came as an adjustment to the last year, and that kind of adjustment might not occur last year.

 

Harwood spent about one hour deflating Councilperson Rita Malmud’s questions as to why certain funds she found in budget line items could not be used to balance the budget. The didactic questions prompted a round of applause from the audience of interested White Plains police and firemen when Malmud passed the questioning torch to Mr. Roach.

 

Mayor Joseph Delfino sat with his desk empty, not even following the line-by-line questions, of Malmud or the other six councilpersons. The meeting was marked by Roach’s charges that the proposal to lease garages was smoke and mirrors and that he would have reviewed it if the city had presented details of the deal. Paul Wood and the Mayor both said, they were told by Council President Benjamin Boykin they were not interested in the deal, and that was why the figures were not hardened up and presented to the council.

 

The council did not address the union contracts at all.

 

City (at last) confirms private binding arbitration looms for fire fighters.

 

WPCNR was told by Paul Wood that the city has entered into a voluntary, private binding arbitration agreement with the fire fighters union and that the union and city had agreed upon an arbitrator, rather than petition for aribitration through the New York State Public Employers Relations Board.

 

Joe Carrier, the President of the White Plains Professional Fire Fighters told WPCNR the city Corporation Counsel has yet to approve the arbitrator. He expected, he said for arbitration proceedings to begin in August with a possible agreement announced in late fall or January, 2010. The agreement would give retroactive raises for 2008-09 and 09-10. Any contract would be for two years. It could not be determined whether the police union will follow the firefighter settlement, which is generally the case.

 

Carrier said the union had been told last summer that the money was available for the 3.5, 4% and 4% raises he had negotiated with the Delfino Administration. He felt it was in bad faith that the council rejected the agreed on settlement. He also expressed concern that Councilperson Rita Malmud had vowed to fight any arbitrated settlement as she said Monday evening

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. By John F. Bailey. May 7, 2009: Anthony Zimbolow, Executive Director of the New York State Public Employee Relations Board (PERB), told WPCNR today his agency has no record of any petitions being docketed by the City of White Plains,  and police and fire unions, submitting to voluntary binding arbitration in their wage dispute over a new contract. That does not rule out that the city is in secret, voluntary arbitration with the unions. However, the Mayor and councilpersons profess not to know if arbitration has been entered into, voluntary or officially-state-sanctioned.

 

 

Previously, the Mayor of White Plains and several Councilman have said they did not know whether binding arbitration had been filed for. So far it has not, according to Mr. Zimbolow. Zimbolow told WPCNR that unions and public employers, in order to go into binding arbitration had to do so through the PERB agency.

 

 PERB,  according to Zimbolow, then supervises a panel of three aribrators, one representing the employer (City of White Plains), one representating the aggrieved party (police and fire unions), and a third independent arbitrator. The independent arbitrator may be chosen from a list supplied by PERB. How long the actual arbitration would take, Zimbolow said was hard to say.

 

Zumbolow said the city and the fire and police unions could enter into private voluntary arbitration, but he said that is “extremely rare.”

 

This leaves open the question of whether voluntary binding aribitration on a private schedule is going on. No one in the city, including the Mayor and the Common Council seems to know. Previously the head of the White Plains Professional Fire Fighters had told WPCNR, the city had presented an arbitrator for the union approval, which might indicate that “secret” voluntary arbitration is under way, but the Mayor’s Office has not confirmed such aribitration proceedings have been going on.

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WPCNR QUILL & EYESHADE. Special to WPCNR from Budget & Management Committee Member, Tim Sheehan. May 7,2009 UPDATED WITH CLARIFICATION, (in italics)10:35 A.M. EDT: The Mayor’s Budget& Management Committee met Wednesday evening and is expected to recommend to the Common Council that use of fund balance to balance the Mayor’s $160.7 Million budget be limited to $5.4 Million (down from $11.4 Million). The committee, in addition recommends implementing taxi medallion sales, towing fees and increased mortgage taxes to generate $2 Million, and recommends $4 Million in reduced expenditures.

 

 

Chairman of the Budget and Management Committee Benjamin Boykin did not return a telephone call to confirm whether he was behind those recommendations and would report them out to the Common Council.

 

Tim Sheehan said the $4 Million in reduced expenditures, if not found by the council in the budget,  may have to come from personnel reductions and increases in the share city workers pay in benefits, or possibly wage reductions and regrettably, layoffs, if not found elsewhere..

 

Sheehan said the city may have to consider asking city workers  to pay  20% of their health benefits,and retired workers pay 10% of their health costs as one way of cutting city expenses. Sheehan sent this statement to WPCNR Thursday morning, clarifying this proposal::

 

“Currently, only police/firefighters who are on the job for the first 5 years pay a portion of their health insurance.  Everyone else contributes nothing to the premium costs.  My proposal to reduce the amount of fund balance applied to this year’s budget (which would require union approval as part of a concession package) requests that active full time employees contribute 20% and retirees 10% of the City paid health care premiums, which would save the City $3 million per year.  I remain doubtful that this giveback will be accepted.”

 

Sheehan added that the committee recommends  that 5% of the budget not be held back from the departments as proposed previously by Acting Budget Director David Birdsall, but rather be available to the Common Council to cut those expenses now to contribute to the $4 Million in expenditure reductions recommended by the Committee.

 

Sheehan credited Larry Delgado with bringing together a consensus observation that though several committee member “reports” conflicted, that it was Delgado’s sense that the Committee members did not want to use $11.4 Million of the remaning $17 Million fund balance to balance the 09-10 budget.  After Mr.Delgado made this observation, Sheehan said, he made the suggestion of $5.4 Million fund balance use mixed with the $4 Million in expenditure cuts and $2 Million in new fees.

 

Sheehan said Committee member Pat Austin recommended using less fund balance ($3.4 Million).

 

Sheehan added though that his  $2-$4-$5.6 mix was made under the assumption that the ¼% sales tax proposal voted down by the Common Council Monday evening) would eventually be enacted. Sheehan said the Council has 12 months to enact the sales tax as an option to bulk of revenues in 2010-11. Sheehan said the city will have the same problem in 2010-11, that of replacing fund balance and cutting expenditures.

 

“No one will come out and say that, but someone has to say it,” Sheehan observed speaking to WPCNR Wednesday evening. Sheehan said the committee feels the council should look at leasing the two municipal garages. “They should at least look at it.”

 

Sheehan observed the Mayor’s Conference room was “packed” with police, fire and CSEA personnel,and he hoped that the city’s precarious budget situation was sinking in.