"Communities have no say about the employee benefits program or teacher pensions," said Robert Lichtenfeld, superintendent of the Katonah-Lewisboro district.

The Brownsville Area School Board applied for any exception to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011 due to anticipated teacher pension costs.

And the costs associated with teacher pensions and health benefits continue to rise steeply.

His supporters have said Tanzi was recruited by union interests upset about Caprio's vote on changes to teacher pensions.

For the 2011-12 school year, the Chichester School Board applied for two exceptions to exceed the Act 1 Index: special education and teacher pension.

School districts in New York must pay the cost of teacher pensions, a responsibility that grew substantially in the years after poor stock market returns in 2000 and 2001.

Neither Mr. Corcoran nor Dr. Ellis appeared willing to compromise on a change that would force local districts to pay teacher pensions and Social Security.

A mountain-climbing enthusiast, he then set of out West with $3,000 from his teacher pension fund.

Teachers receive an additional $200 for every 5 year period they work for the district as well as a retirement cash bonus on top of social security and teacher pension.

North Allegheny School Board apply for an exception to exceed the Act 1 index for the budget in 2011 due to escalting teacher pension costs.