Somers Seeks Increase Of 2.65 Percent For 2019-20 Budget

SOMERS, NY — Voters in the Somers school district will go to the polls Tuesday, May 21 to approve a $93.7 million budget for 2019-20, up from $91.3 million. The increase over the current spending package is $2.4 million — or 2.65 percent.

The tax levy will increase by a little more than $2 million to $79.8 million — up 2.62 percent.

District officials said the estimated tax rate increase is 2.65 percent, and the proposed budget is within the state mandated tax levy cap.

According to information on the district's website, the proposed budget will continue to contain funding for four school resource officers with on assigned to each school building.

There will be an additional first-grade class and one teacher at Primrose. Alternatively, at the Intermediate school, there are slightly less students, resulting in the need for one less elementary teacher.

At the middle school, World Language instruction will be added to grade six, resulting in an additional staffer in the department. That, however, will be offset by a reduction of 0.6 staff in art and 0.6 in music, due to declining enrollment.

The high school will see two teachers added — one in the math department and one in the science department.

The district will add a full-time behavior intervention specialist to support classroom teachers in their inclusive instructional practices.

Health insurance costs have added $216,963 to the budget, district officials said.

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, May 21 in the Somers Middle School Gym, 250 Route 202 in Somers.

For more information on the budget, go here.

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