Updated: K-L Budget Meeting Preview

The Katonah Lewisboro school district has posted two revised budget proposals for this afternoon's discussion at 4 p.m., posted with this story. We'll have the story later.

And, though far from scientific, the exit survey results from the May 18 budget vote are in.

Out of 4,580 people who voted, 1,498 completed an exit poll survey, or approximately 33 percent of the voters.

The majority of responders, almost 60 percent, reported that they voted yes for the budget, making it impossible to generalize results to the larger population. The district acknowledges the survey limitations in the report, which is posted with this article.

While the results may not give the board of education the hoped-for clues to make decisions about how to modify the budget in order for it to pass on June 15, the results offer some interesting, but not surprising, feedback.

The majority of those who supported the budget said they did so because the budget met the needs of students, (65 percent) and they supported the district's educational plan (60 percent). However, only 31 percent of them found the tax levy and rate to be acceptable.

No voters overwhelmingly indicated that the tax levy and rate were not acceptable (66 percent of respondents), and they felt that the cost of education was too high (70 percent).

The district reports that the majority of survey respondents did not provide written comments, (306 out of 1,498) but of those who did, common threads to their replies emerged, mainly around education and administrative costs and "teacher union matters."

It may be that yes voters concluded the budget was the best option available: write in comments include such comments as "it's reasonable under the circumstances," "it's the best option," and "no would be disastrous."

But for the voters who rejected the plan, one conclusion is clear: they feel the cost of education is too high.

Read the full report from the district posted with this article.

The board of education meets today at 4:00 p.m. in the John Jay High School library.