MVCSD holds final public hearing for state monitor

Dr. Kimberly Young-Wilkins, state monitor for the Mount Vernon City School District, gave a presentation on the District's financial performance and desired outcomes at the third and final state monitor public hearing on Tuesday evening at the Education Center. Click here to view the presentation. 

The presentation opened up with an explanation of Dr. Young-Wilkins’s role. In regards to the fiscal operations of her role, she is responsible for ensuring that the school budget is balanced and consistent with the District’s long-term financial plan, as well as notifying the board regarding violations of the academic and / or financial plan.

“School districts are funded in three ways. Through property taxes and other local revenues, state aid and federal aid,” Dr. Young-WIlkins explained. “In the average school district in New York State, the amount of local and state revenues are roughly equal  in less than 10% of the revenue of the federal government. However, local and state shares can be dramatically higher or lower depending on the relative wealth and needs of your school district. In Mount Vernon, the percentage of revenue from local and state federal sources track fairly closely to the state averages.”

She then went on to discuss how the District was designated by the Office of the State Comptroller as in “Significant Fiscal Stress,” with the District experiencing operating deficits in all but one year between 2019 and 2024. As a result, the District’s fund balance declined from $33 million to $7 million. Contributing factors to these deficits have been declining enrollment and a zero percent tax levy for several years. 

The District took drastic measures and decided to close three schools in June 2025. This resolution is projected to save the District almost $17 million in the 2025 - 2026 school year. The District also received an $8 million increase in State Aid as part of a “spin-up” which will be paid back incrementally over the following 30 years.

The monitor detailed how her and the board must develop a five-year financial plan no later than November 1, 2025. The financial plan is likely to result in recommendations including budget development, cash flow management, reimbursement claiming process, contracting process and long-term planning. 

The presentation concluded with Dr. Young-Wilkins and Superintendent Dr. Strickland answering questions and concerns from the community regarding finances in the District. The pair answered questions regarding the state monitor’s position, enrollment, current school year budget and more. If you would like to submit a question to the state monitor, you may do so by emailing kyoungwilkins@mtvernoncsd.org.

“Dr. Strickland has had a very similar situation in Rochester, his former district…” said Dr. Young-Wilkins. “Under the leadership of Dr. Strickland and his predecessors, Rochester has improved its fiscal situation dramatically.”