Lakeland School Board and Budget Choices May 20

Lakeland school district residents can vote on the district budget and leadership on Tuesday.

Voting takes place from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Van Cortlandtville Elementary School, Main Street, Mohegan Lake.

Five people are running for three seats on the Lakeland Board of Education. 

Newcomers Denise Kness and Rachelle Nardelli seek seats on the board, and incumbent trustees Scott Carey, Michael Cherchia and Glen Malia are asking the voters for re-election.

School trustees serve three-year terms and are unpaid.

In addition, two propositions on the ballot Tuesday represent the annual spending plan for 2014-15 and a supplementary request for voters to authorize vehicle and equipment purchases. 

The proposed budget of $161,174,165, is an increase of 0.5% from the current year's budget.

The district wide tax levy will increase 0.5% which is under the New York State tax cap figure for 2014-2015 of 1.29%, district officials said.Here are the two spending propositions:  

RESOLVED, that the sum of $161,174,165 be appropriated to meet the estimated expenditures for school purposes for the school year 2014-2015 and that the Board of Education of the Lakeland Central School District be authorized to levy taxes to meet the same.     

RESOLVED:

(a)    That the Board of Education of the Lakeland Central School District of Shrub Oak, in the County of Westchester, New York (the “District”), is hereby authorized to purchase various vehicles and equipment for use by the District and to expend therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof, an amount not to exceed the estimated total cost of $970,284; (b) that a tax is hereby voted in the aggregate amount of not to exceed $970,284 to pay such cost, said tax to be levied and collected in installments such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education; and (c) that in anticipation of said tax, bonds of the District are hereby authorized to be issued in the principal amount of not to exceed $970,284 and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable.