When the Ramapo Central School Board met last in February, Kelly Seibert presented the board with a detailed fiscal analysis that also summed up the state of local school budgets. Seibert is assistant superintendent for business for the Ramapo Central schools, and like his boss Superintendent Dr. Douglas Adams, speaks numbers fairly fluidly.

The Ramapo Central School Board meets on Tuesday, March 3, at the district’s Hillburn office at 7:30 p.m. — the agenda includes recognition of Suffern High School National Merit Scholars and Yearbook Staff.

Compared to other Rockland County school districts, Ramapo Central budget numbers look rather rosy. But all things depend on New York State education spending, and with local tax levy calculations due to the state on March 1, school districts have yet to learn just what kind of state aid they might receive.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is currently in the heat of attempting to implement his education brand of education reform, which, among other things, involves a $1 billion boost in state school spending — or 5% increase (contingent on the state legislature passing his school reform policies), more state oversite of perceived failing schools, linking teacher pay and job performance with student Common Core test performance, and making it easier for charter schools to open and operate in the state.

During his re-election bid, Gov. Cuomo called New York’s education system a “public monopoly.”

According to 2012 numbers, nationwide states averaged $10,667 per pupil while New York state led the nation in per pupil spending at $19, 300 — outside of the the District of Columbia, which is an anomily with a comparatively small student population that receives nearly $20,000 per student.

Final New York education spending is due April 1, when the state budget is due. The Rampo Central school budget goes up for a vote when the district wide vote is held on Tuesday, May 19.

Ramapo Central’s 2014-15 budget was approximately $130 million, with district taxes comprising some $105 million of that amount, or 81%. State aid made up an additional 14%.

Due to the Gap Elimination Adjustment, the district has determined its cumulative loss in funds since 2010 at $12.5 million. The Gap Elimination Adjustment was introduced in 2010/11 to help close New York State’s budget deficit, and involves withholding funds, or taking funds back, from local school districts. The GEA and subsequent unfunded state mandates created much of Ramapo Central’s 2014/15 budget gap of $1.7 million which was paid by tapping into reserve funds.

The BOE will continue with budget workshops on Tuesday, March 17 and Tuesday, April 14. The budget is scheduled to be presented and adopted by the board on Tuesday, April 14, at Suffern Middle School. A Public Hearing on the budget has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, at Suffern Middle School.

Additionally, three board members’ terms expire in 2015, including current BOE President Theresa DiFalco, Tom Bollato and Teresa Monahan.

The Ramapo Central School Board will meet on Tuesday, March 3, at 7:30 p.m. at the district’s Hillburn, NY offices.