This morning, Senator Bill Weber, CPA (R-38), stood alongside key community leaders to address a critical issue affecting taxpayers in the East Ramapo Central School District. Senator Weber was joined by Shragi Greenbaum, Rockland Regional Director of Agudath Israel of America; Natacha Francois-Audain, BSM, MPA, Director of ABC Early Learning Academy; and Darnett Davis, Principal of Kidsnet, to demand answers and action from the New York State Education Department (NYSED) and Commissioner Betty Rosa.
“As a Certified Public Accountant with over 30 years of experience, I understand the importance of transparency and fiscal responsibility,” Senator Weber stated. “Last night’s revelations highlight a glaring failure of accountability from the highest level of the New York State Education Department.”
Senator Weber outlined months of troubling claims by NYSED and Commissioner Rosa, including allegations that East Ramapo faced a $20 million deficit. State monitors recommended a tax increase of 4.38%, compounded by an additional 1% approved by voters, resulting in a total increase of 5.38%. Commissioner Rosa forced the tax hike, overriding voter consent and placing significant financial strain on district families.
“Many residents are now struggling to keep their heat and water on due to this unwarranted tax burden,” Weber said. “My office has worked tirelessly to assist those affected, but this situation should never have occurred.”
The urgency of this issue was heightened last night during the East Ramapo Board Meeting, where external auditors revealed a shocking discovery: the district is not in a deficit but instead has a $30 million surplus.
“We are here today to ask one fundamental question: What did Commissioner Rosa, NYSED, and the monitors know, and when did they know it?” Weber demanded. “More importantly, how will taxpayers be made whole? Refund checks must be issued immediately to compensate residents.”
Senator Weber also called for a thorough investigation into the monitors’ failure and Commissioner Rosa’s actions, emphasizing the need for systemic reforms. “The monitors—whose salaries the district is forced to incur—have proven ineffective, and Commissioner Rosa’s decisions require serious scrutiny.”
While expressing relief at East Ramapo’s newfound surplus, Senator Weber underscored the importance of accountability. “As lawmakers, we rely on accurate data from state agencies to make informed decisions. Discovering that the numbers were not just off, but off by such a significant margin, is unacceptable,” he said.
Shragi Greenbaum, Natacha Francois-Audain, and Darnett Davis echoed Senator Weber’s concerns, emphasizing the need to prioritize transparency, fiscal responsibility, and fairness for all taxpayers and students in the district.
