East Ramapo Public School Enrollment is down 5.94%, so why is the Board increasing spending by 5.5%?
Rockland County voters will decide on proposed 2026–2027 school district budgets on May 19.
On Tuesday, May 19th, voters in East Ramapo Central School District are being asked to vote for the proposed budget. This budget was approved unopposed by the Board in a 7-0 vote. Even though East Ramapo enrollment went down over the past year, more than any other School District in Rockland County, the school board members proposed a 2026-2027 budget which increases spending by a larger percentage than all but one (North Rockland) School District in Rockland County NY
There are 8 School Districts in Rockland County NY.
Here are their 2026-2027 Board approved, proposed budgets, for the voters to decide on May 19 2026 :
Rockland County NY School Districts
2026-2027 Proposed Budget
| School District |
Spending Increase |
Tax Levy Increase |
Public School Enrollment Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Ramapo | + 5.56% | + 0.00% | - 5.94% |
| North Rockland | + 6.46% | + 0.66% | - 4.75% |
| Suffern Central |
+ 3.42% | + 3.48% | - 4.24% |
| Nanuet | + 4.69% | + 8.42% | - 2.90% |
| Pearl River | + 3.85% | + 3.72% | + 0.09% |
| South Orangetown |
+ 1.21% | + 1.85% | + 0.58% |
| Clarkstown | + 2.31% | + 2.55% | + 0.94% |
| Nyack | + 3.52% | + 2.14% | + 1.56% |
Voting in favor of the 5.56% spending increase were : Shimon Rose, Sherry McGill, Sabrina Charles-Pierre, Yitzchok Gruber, Simon Koth, Ephraim Weissmandl and Moshe Samuel Feder.
Moses Koth and Hiram Rivera were absent from the April 21, 2026 meeting.
Granted taxes are not going up. But that isn’t because of newfound fiscal prudence by Shimon Rose and co. This 5.56% proposed spending increase for the upcoming 2026-2027 fiscal year comes two years after the State Education Commissioner Betty A. Rosa collaborated / conspired/acquiesced with the East Ramapo school board and forced upon the taxpayers a 4.38% tax levy increase which equals 6.8 million of additional taxing and spending above, and in addition to, the $156,035,129 tax levy and $331,881,985 spending plan that the voters approved in June 18, 2024. It is noteworthy that the Board went along and never attempted to seriously challenge her in court.
Increasing spending is effectively a tax increase. Even though this year a tax increase is not necessary, that is because of state aid that can end at any time. Which would lead to massive tax increases. Furthermore, given that enrollment is declining the Board should be cutting spending and at the very least roll back the unconstitutional 'Rosa tax increase'.
To put things in perspective a 5% decline in enrollment means 500 fewer students. At a rate of over 30k per student that is a savings of over 15,000,000 dollars. There is zero reason for spending to go up at all.
VOTE NO!