Ossining To Vote On School, Library Budgets, Boards, Capital Reserve

OSSINING, NY — Ossining residents will have six propositions to consider at the 2022 school and library budget and board vote May 17.

First is the $151.5 million budget proposal. The Ossining Board of Education will hold a public hearing about it starting at 7:30 p.m. May 10 at the Anne M. Dorner Middle School and on Zoom.

The $151,521,044 spending plan is 8.37 percent higher than the current budget. Still, for the third straight year, the overall tax levy won't rise. In fact, district officials project the estimated tax levy of $102,785,797, which is a decrease of half a percent.

Ossining is one of the "Harmed Suburban Five" school districts, systematically shortchanged for years of state education aid due under New York's own funding formula. For 2022-23, that will change somewhat.

In Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget, Ossining received a record amount of additional Foundation Aid and is now funded at 80 percent of what it is due, district officials said.

The total Foundation Aid funding increase is $6.8 million. The District will also receive $1.8 million in expense-based aids. The total state aid for the 2022-23 budget is $37.7 million.

Most of the district's spending goes for instruction, including salaries and benefits.

See the Board of Education's adopted 2022-23 budget here.

Also on the ballot May 17, there are five people seeking two seats on the school board. Read their bios here.

There will be 2 other school district propositions on the ballot. District officials are asking voter approval to establish a Capital Reserve Fund known as the “Facilities Improvement Program 2022" and to OK expenditure from the Capital Reserve Fund known as the "Facilities Improvement Program 2017."

In addition, the Ossining Public Library budget and board election will be on the ballot. The Ossining Library's board election is uncontested, with Amanda Curley, Elthema Goodson, Meghan Huppuch and Cecilia Quintero running for the four seats. Click to see the library's proposed budget.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at Ossining High School on May 17.