Yisroel R.

Voters across the East Ramapo Central School District will head to the polls today for the Finkelstein Memorial Library election, where residents will vote on both a proposed library budget and a trustee race for one open seat on the board.

The proposed library budget includes an approximately 4.5 percent tax increase. Some residents have raised concerns in recent weeks regarding the size of the increase and broader questions surrounding the library’s budgeting process.

Also on today’s ballot is the trustee election for one open seat. The candidates listed are Joan Soskin, Marie Medgine Antoine, Ariel Dahan, and Moshe Dear.

Although Moshe Dear’s name will remain on the ballot, he publicly announced last week that he is no longer actively running in the election. Dear said he originally entered the race believing there would be two trustee seats available. After the New York State Education Department declined to issue a stay request related to the election process, the election proceeds with only one seat on the ballot.

Following that decision, Dear released a public letter urging residents who planned to vote for him to instead support Ariel Dahan, saying he does not want to split the vote.

The election is taking place today, May 12, from 7:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. at the Finkelstein Memorial Library located at 24 Chestnut Street in Spring Valley.