Voters turned out Tuesday for the highly watched Finkelstein Memorial Library election, where residents voted on a proposed 4.5% tax levy increase and selected a candidate for an open trustee seat amid weeks of controversy surrounding the library board.

Sources tell Monsey Scoop that voters rejected the proposed 2026 library budget by a vote of 519 to 317. At the same time, Ariel Dahan won the race for the vacant trustee seat on the Finkelstein Memorial Library Board with 446 votes.

Joan received 192 votes, Marie received 135 votes, Dear — who had publicly withdrawn and endorsed Dahan — received 35 votes after urging supporters to ignore his name on the ballot and instead vote for Dahan.

The election came after mounting public scrutiny over the library’s budget process and election procedures. Earlier this month, Dahan filed a legal challenge with the New York State Commissioner of Education after disputes emerged regarding the handling of the trustee election and ballot process, including controversy surrounding efforts to remove the trustee seat from the ballot entirely.

Supporters described the election outcome as a major demonstration of achdus within the community, saying multiple groups united behind a single effort despite attempts to divide support among candidates.

“This entire election is an unbelievable story of achdus that they don’t understand,” one supporter told Monsey Scoop following the results. “They tried splitting our vote.”

The defeat of the proposed budget now leaves the library board facing decisions regarding revisions and future financial planning moving forward.

Dahan’s victory places him on the library board at a time when concerns over transparency, budgeting, and governance have become a major focus for many residents throughout the community.