School Budgets Approved in Seven Local Districts
School budgets in seven districts in northern Westchester were comfortably approved by voters on Tuesday despite glaring low turnouts.
The largest spending plan in the area, $161 million, in the Lakeland School District passed 917-243. As a result, Yorktown homeowners will enjoy a 1.9% tax decrease, while Cortlandt taxpayers will experience a 2.3% increase and Somers residents will see taxes rise 1.1%.
Meanwhile, in the Board of Education race for three seats, all three incumbents running were reelected to new three-year terms. Elizabeth Kogler was the top vote-getter with 873 votes, followed by Steve Rosen with 743 votes and Steve Korn with 740. Challenger Mike Sancimino was a close fourth with 715 votes.
In neighboring Yorktown, the $98 million budget was approved 773-235.
In the Board of Education race, incumbents Cheryl Reynolds (765 votes) and Tom Donatelli (735 votes) were reelected, along with first-time trustee Reshmi Bose (550 votes). Finishing out of the running was Drew Pecunia with 458 votes.
In Peekskill, only a handful of eligible voters turned out at the polls and approved the budget 341-153. Incumbent trustees Michael Simpkins, Maria Pereira and Jillian Villon were all reelected running unopposed.
Budgets also passed in Ossining (1,150-497), Somers (922-303), Hendrick Hudson (536-163) and Croton (500-119).
Rick has more than 40 years’ experience covering local news in Westchester and Putnam counties, running the gamut from politics and crime to sports and human interest. He has been an editor at Examiner Media since 2012. Read more from Rick’s editor-author bio here. Read Rick’s work here: https://www.theexaminernews.com/author/pezzullo_rick-writer/