Schools

Somers Voter: 'Trying to Do What's Best for the Children'

Somers Central School District voters are deciding on an $83 million spending plan for the 2013-2014 school year today. 

The $83,545,682 budget represents a tax rate increase of $151.95 for each $1,000 of assessed value, a jump of 3.61 percent over this year’s $146.66. That budget increases district spending by a little more than 3-percent over the current budget of $81,334,171.

Robin Barow, who has lived in Somers for two years and has two children, ages 5 and 8, said it is mostly people who have children in the district who want to see the budget pass. Some of the important issues to him are maintaining current programs and not increasing class sizes. 

"I understand there are a lot of expenses, everything goes up in price, but they are doing the best they can," said Barow, whose taxes will increase about $400 per year. 

Other Somers residents expressed they too supported the budget. One man, who has lived in town for 15 years but did not wish to be named, said he has three children in the school district. He said he was trying to do what's best for the children by voting in favor of the budget.

Richard Intile, who doesn't have any children in the district, said that as a senior citizen the budget has gotten "overburdening." 

"[School district officials] can be more efficient as opposed to continuously increasing taxes," Intile said. 

Another woman, who has been a district resident for 16 years but wished not to be named, said she had three children who went through the school system. She said she would always hope other senior citizens voted in favor of the budget. Now she said, she has the same duty to support the district and children who are currently enrolled. 

Voters will go to the polls on May 21, casting their ballots from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Somers Middle School gymnasium. Read more about it here.

Five residents are running for three open seats on the Somers Central School Board of Education. The candidates are: current trustee Ifay Chang; appointed-trustee Donna RosenblumJoseph MarraKaren Frieri and Richard Wagner. Read a Q&A with each candidate by clicking on his or her name.   

What do you think of the school budget? What are the most important issues?
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