School Board Election Redux

In case you were all hoping you had heard the last of the School District #15 politics, it ain't over yet. Today is the revote for the budget that was voted down in last month's elections. Basically, if the budget gets voted down, the district automatically switches over to a contingency, or 'austerity' budget. So the Board has, for the first time in School Board history, proposed a budget that is actually less than the contingency budget would be. While at first glance that seems a prudent budget to approve, this Q & A flyer circulated by the budget's opponents explains things a bit more clearly:

Important Questions About the June 15th Budget Revote:
Q: Why vote NO if the budget is below contingency (austerity) level, and appears to save taxpayers money?
A: This is the first budget revote in the history of the Lawrence School District where the proposed budget amount is less than contingency. Although this unprecedented gesture appears to save the taxpayers $1,000 out of a proposed $88 million budget, the sad reality is that it opens the door to spending millions and millions more. This is because a passed budget removes the state's fiscal controls that keep the School Board's expenditures in check. Clearly, a contingency budget offers the advantages to the taxpayers and provides for the educational needs of the District's children. Voting NO is the only fiscally prudent choice that provides for all.

Q: How are the schools actually affected by contingency?
A: When the District is in contingency, the Board is permitted to use funds for those "expenses deemed to be absolutely necessary to operate and maintain schools". That requires the Board to make a case by case determination before each expenditure. When the Board is not in contingency, it gains the flexibility to grant salary increases, increase fringe benefits, and make unecessary purchases, all of which do not benefit the schools or children. For example of such purchases, see the NYS Auditor's Report regarding the software purchased by the Board for $313,448, but never used, and the 33 Palm Pilot purchased by the Board for $32,737 - most remain unopened and the rest unaccounted for.

Another wrinkle in all of this is that a NYS Comptroller's Audit Report on the District's finances was just released, and it found many examples of fiscal irresponsibility and lack of controls. From the same flyer:

Q: What does the NYC Comptroller's Audit Report indicate about the Board's use of taxpayers funds?
A: While District officials are quick to point out that the Audit does not single out anyone as individually responsible for criminal wrongdoing, the Auditor's Report stresses how irresponsible the School Board and Administration are and that they fail to maintain necessary fiscal management and critical internal controls. In addition, the Administration has not performed essential bookkeeping, and has neglected to reconcile monthly balances, which have resulted in unresolved monthly discrepancies as high as $1.1 Million. Is that the way you want your checkbook balanced?

I will be voting NO on the budget today. For any fellow SD #15 readers out there, I encourage you to do the same.
Related: I, II, III, IV, V