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Superintendent Clarence Ellis urges voters to approve 1.99% tax levy to shore up East Ramapo budget
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Clarence Ellis and Assistant Superintendent for Business Natalie Espinel presented a proposed 1.99% tax-levy increase and a $331.8 million budget that relies on $17.7 million in fund balance, citing unusually high transportation costs (about 23% of expenditures) driven by universal busing and private-school ridership growth.
Superintendent Dr. Clarence Ellis urged the East Ramapo community to support a proposed 1.99% tax-levy increase, saying the modest raise—estimated to yield roughly $3 million—would help the district avoid a contingency (austerity) budget and begin addressing long‑standing facility and transportation needs.
"If we pass the budget at the 1.99%, as Miss Espinel said, it will give us a little bit slightly over 3,000,000, around $3,000,000. That won't solve all our problems, but it will start the healing process," Ellis said during the town-hall presentation.
Natalie Espinel, the district's Assistant Superintendent for Business, presented the budget framework and revenue assumptions. She told attendees that revenue sources include state aid (estimated to rise by roughly…
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