Fields & Bonds

In response to some questions we have received, we want to help make a few things clearer:

What is the difference between a school bond and a school budget — and where do fields fit in?

Improvements to fields at the High School and Central School are under consideration to be included in a school bond referendum. A bond is not the same as a school budget. Every May, we vote on a school budget which includes all the costs that it takes for the school district to operate for the following year, e.g. teacher salaries and benefits, supplies, maintenance, utilities, etc. A bond referendum happens only once in a while and involves larger capital improvement expenditures. When the community votes to approve a bond, the school district then borrows money to pay for the capital improvements, and pays it back over 15-20 years. While a bond vote is different than a budget vote, the debt service on any school bond (also known as interest) does eventually end up in the annual school budget.

When was our last bond?

It is very important to know that our district has not put forth a bond in 7 years (since 2001). By law, every school district in the state must do a Capital Improvement Plan every 5 years; the expectation is that districts will put forth corresponding capital improvement bonds-to invest in the infrastructure of the district. (The state even provides financial aid for these kinds of projects.) Past bonds in Mamaroneck have paid for the Hommocks Auditorium, the new wing at the high school, renovations at the elementary schools, and less visible things like plumbing and electrical updates. The good news is that the debt services from some of our previous bonds are starting to roll off and will continue to do so over the next several years. While we as taxpayers appreciate that we haven't had a bond in 7 years, it is time to invest in our schools again.

Why are we asking for your help right now?

Over the past 2 years, our district has spent a great deal of time assessing the needs of our many buildings and grounds. They have completed a thorough 5 Year Capital Plan which includes many critical needs, field improvements among them. (Field improvements have actually been considered a vital need since 2001.) Lately, however, the school board has started to get nervous about what the community will support and when. They are discussing whether to put forward one bond or two, perhaps one now and one later. They are debating which capital needs are the most important and which could be tabled for a future bond. It is critical that field advocates maintain a strong and vocal presence right now — to make sure field improvements (such as turf and lights at the high school) are part of a unified and compelling bond referendum.

In case you're wondering:

Field Plan Details: For a full review of the recommended field improvement plan (known as Plan C), please refer to the school district website.

Chatsworth and Murray playgrounds: The large asphalt surfaces at both schools are overdue for replacement. Safe alternative surfaces are being proposed for inclusion in a bond.

School Budget: A bond will pass more easily if the school budget passes first. When the school budget was first presented a few weeks ago, the tax increase was projected at more than 9%. The School Board and Administration have been working very hard to bring that number down. It is now projected at lower than 6%, just slightly above a contingency budget. The school budget vote is May 20th.

Flint Park: All of this discussion about school district fields does NOT impact the project at Flint Park. Flint is owned by the Village of Larchmont and that project is being funded by village, county, state and private funds — as many of you know. The synthetic turf field at Flint is on schedule to be playable by late May or early June.