&b City Of ROCheSter Lovely Warren City Hall Room 308A, 30 Church Street Mayor Rochester, New York 14614-1290 October 25, 2019 Terry J. Dade, Superintendent Rochester City School District 131 W. Broad St. Rochester, NY 146 Dear Supe Dade: have watched the many challenges you have faced in your new role as superintendent. I commend you on how you have handled this situation given the fact that both your Budget and Finance Directors have moved on to other positions or stepped down. I believe you are committed to dealing with the financial and academic challenges of the school district. I also want you to know that the City is here to help. As you are aware, the City and School District finances are intricately linked. Given the situation that you are facing, I would like to extend an offer of assistance as you grapple with the current RCSD budget crisis. There are many who want to dwell on how we got here and assess blame. While ascertaining exactly what happened is important and will become clear once the Comptroller?s team finishes its audit, we can best serve our children and taxpayers by working together to strengthen fiscal position. The challenges faced in the 2018/19 budget will only be compounded in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school year budgets. It is imperative that we do all we can as the Mayor and Superintendent to work collaboratively to deal with this financial crisis that has the ability to impact the City?s bond rating, future School Modernization Projects, day to day operations of the School District, but most of all the children of our City. I propose that both of our Budget/Finance teams work together to quantify the magnitude of the financial problem in the current fiscal year, update the projection for the 202941 fiscal year, and identify options for resolving the current deficit and closing next year?s gap.'l' realize that you have an ambitious deadline for coming up with a plan by November 12, 2019. propose that the City Budget Director and staff in the City?s Office of Management and Budget work alongside your team to help you accomplish this goal. Additionally, given the need for expediency and if you are amenable, we would jointly engage an outside consultant to provide additional expertise in identifying solutions. I am willing to contribute funding to enable the hiring of that consultant pending City Council approval. As stated, the fates of the Rochester City School District and the City of Rochester are inextricably linked. I propose this partnership for the good of the larger community and to help you put the RCSD on a path to success. Together, we can ensure that the problems of the past do not limit our children?s future. We can give our kids the ability to live to their fullest potential. Mayor, City of Rochester Phone: 585.428.7045 Fax: 585.428.6059 TTY: 585.428.6054 Employer