Ossining School & Library Budgets Pass

Dana Levenberg and Kim Case beat out Sharon Abreau in the race for two Ossining Board of Education seats. Levenberg and Case were running as incumbents, and Abreau was running for the first time. Case received 1,661 votes, Levenberg 1,576 and Abreau 933.

Also tonight, voters passed $106.5 million 2012-2013 budget. The votes were 1,869 in favor and 1,049 against. While at the polls, Patch could only find voters that were casting their ballots in favor of the budget.

"The schools are facing enough issues and troubles financially right now. Not just in Ossining, but all communities. So it's even more important to support the Ossining schools given that we are not one of the wealthier districts," said Village of Ossining resident Andy Kaplan. "Overall Ossining, dollar for dollar, provides an excellent education for our kid and excellent programs that are on par with some of the wealthier districts."

Many voters told Patch that property taxes were on their minds as they went into the voting booth.

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"I'm just looking to avoid too much of an increase in taxes and still get the same quality of education—that's very important," said one voter who didn't want to give out their name. "They're working on it—finding ways to keep the same quality education without raising taxes too much.

A number of voters at the polls said that they were voting in favor of the budget for current and future students, even though their kids were no longer in school.

My children both had a positive experience when they went to the Ossining schools. I always come out and support the schools," said Briarcliff resident Stephanie Traub. "They provided for my children when they were here—and I feel that just because my children aren't in the schools—that's not a reason to come out and vote against the school.

In addition to the budget and trustees, voters were also casting their ballots for the $3.6 million 2012-2013 budget. Voters passed the budget. 1,796 were in favor and 1,018 were against. This is the first year that its spending plan had to come under New York State's new property tax levy cap law.

“Carefully considered reductions have helped us meet requirements of the state of New York two-percent tax cap provisions and address the concerns of local tax-payers,” said Ossining Public Library President Art Jay.