Yorktown, Somers, Lakeland School Budgets On The Ballot May 21

YORKTOWN/SOMERS, NY — The Yorktown, Somers and Lakeland school districts will be voting on their 2024 budgets and school boards on May 21.

Yorktown CSD

The proposed spending plan of $119,110,000 is 2.97 percent higher than the current budget.

The tax levy is expected to be increased by 2.07 percent.

District officials said that the budget would support: the hiring of teachers and support staff to meet enrollment needs and needs of students, maintenance of class size below BOE guidelines and keep student programs intact.

"We believe that we were successful in our goal to provide students with the high-quality of education that has become synonymous with Yorktown while also demonstrating fiscal responsibility and sensitivity to taxpayers," Superintendent Hattar and YCSD BOE President Jackie Carbone said.

Two, three-year board seats will be up for election.

Candidates running include: Jackie Carbone and Peter Bisaccia.

Somers CSD:

The proposed spending plan of $110,810,731 is 4.31 percent higher than the current budget.

The tax levy increase is 2.76 percent.

District officials said that the budget would: maintain current educational and extracurricular programs, maintain low student-teacher ratio and small class sizes, and increase special education support.

"Despite necessary adjustments, including changes to the overall staff headcount, our plan steadfastly preserves our district's commitment to quality education," Somers CSD BOE President Nick Mancini said. "We maintain an excellent student-to-teacher ratio, ensuring no classroom teachers are removed. This strategy reflects our dedication of providing an uninterrupted, high-quality learning environment for our students amidst financial constraints."

Two, three-year term board seats will be up for election.

Candidates running include: Desiree Deems, Margaret DiLorenzo, Nicholas Mancini (incumbent), Daryl Mundis

The May 9, 2024 League of Women Voters of Northeast Westchester's Somers Board of Education Meet the Candidates video can be viewed here.

Lakeland CSD:

The proposed spending plan of $191,413,753 is 3.73 percent higher than the current budget.

The tax levy increase is 3.85 percent.

District officials said that the budget would maintain all current curricular, co-curricular and interscholastic programs.

"The proposed budget effectively upholds the high quality of our educational programs while exercising prudent fiscal management and our responsibility to taxpayers," Superintendent Karen Gagliardi and BOE President Adam E. Kaufman said. "It allows the district to maintain our current level of educational opportunity for all."

Proposition 2: bus vehicle bond of $1,935,800 for gas/diesel powered and electric powered school buses.

Three, three-year term board seats will be up for election.

Candidates running include: Becky Burfeind (incumbent), Michael Daly (incumbent), Anna Massaro (incumbent), and Tracy Sadler Hormazabal.