Finkelstein Memorial Library Budget Meeting to Be Held Tonight

Yisroel R.

A public budget meeting for the Finkelstein Memorial Library, which serves the East Ramapo Central School District, will be held tonight as the library seeks approval for its proposed spending plan.

The proposed budget stands at approximately $10 million, reflecting an increase of about 4.5 percent. As a publicly funded institution supported by local taxpayers, the library represents a significant portion of the overall tax burden in the district, drawing increased attention from residents.

The public has raised concerns about how funds are being allocated, with some questioning whether the budgeting process was carried out properly, including whether there was sufficient input and discussion by the board, as it is the board’s responsibility to do so. In previous board meetings, concerns were raised by certain board members, and it did not appear that they were taken seriously by the board president and the library.

Furthermore, confusion regarding the number of seats up for reelection has led Ariel Dahan, who is running for one of the seats, to file an appeal with the New York State Commissioner of Education, including an emergency request for intervention.

These concerns are heightened by what some describe as a lack of clarity and information regarding the situation, along with a departure from the usual process of filling a seat until the next election. Some residents are questioning the reasoning behind these decisions.

Tonight, the library will present the budget to the public and provide an opportunity for residents to ask questions. The meeting will take place at 6:30 PM on the third floor of the Finkelstein Memorial Library, located at 24 Chestnut Street in Spring Valley, and will also be available via Zoom, allowing residents to participate and share their input on the proposed budget and related issues.

The meeting is open to the public and is expected to draw significant community interest as residents continue to follow developments surrounding the library’s services and recent changes as it faces scrutiny.