Scarsdale Village Election

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

In-person voting 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room

54 Olmsted Road

Voter Registration Information

• Friday, March 8, 2024: Last Day to register with the Westchester County Board of Elections at your current Scarsdale address to be eligible to vote in the Village Election. Complete this NYS voter registration form. If you have any questions about your voter registration status, please call the Westchester County Board of Elections at (914) 995-5700 or check online using the New York State Board of Elections Voter Lookup page.

Not voting in person? Absentee Ballot* and (NEW) Early Mail Voting Information: Voters may obtain an absentee ballot application or early mail ballot application online, request one by phone or mail from the Village Clerk, or attain one at the Village Clerk’s Office in Village Hall.

• Tuesday, March 12, 2024: Last day for the Village Clerk to receive a completed absentee ballot application or early mail ballot application if the voter requests in that application that the absentee ballot be delivered to the voter via mail.
• Monday, March 18, 2024: Last day for an applicant or applicant’s agent to appear in person before the Village Clerk (by 5 pm) to submit a completed completed absentee ballot application or early mail ballot application and be provided the actual absentee or early mail ballot.
• Tuesday, March 19, 2024 (Village Election): Last day for the Village Clerk to receive completed absentee and early mail ballots by mail, by drop box outside Village Hall before it closes at 5 pm, or by drop box outside the Scarsdale Public Library during polling hours.

*Reminders: After completing the absentee ballot, insert it into the tan-colored official absentee ballot envelope you were provided and seal the envelope. The VOTER must then sign and date the outside of the envelope where indicated. A WITNESS signature on the envelope is required ONLY if the voter cannot physically sign their own name.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

According to the Village Clerk’s office, college students may vote in the Village Election if they are registered to vote at the Scarsdale address in which they are living. College students who are registered to vote where they are attending college may not vote in the Village Election.

Follow this link to the Village Clerk’s Election Information page.

For additional questions regarding the Board of Trustees Election, please contact the LWVS Voter Service Chair.

*NEW*

Early Mail Voting in New York State

New York State now offers the option of Early Mail ballots (no excuse required) for all registered voters! 

This option is in addition to the traditional Absentee ballot, available to registered voters only under certain conditions. Early Mail ballots are available to all registered voters for the Village election in March, the NYS Presidential Primary in April, and for other elections in the future under the auspices of the NYS and Westchester County Board of Elections. (Note that voters are no longer permitted to cast a ballot on a voting machine in a given election if they have been issued an Early Mail or Absentee ballot for that election.)

Information about Early Mail and Absentee ballots can be found at the NYS Board of Elections website.

2024 Presidential Primary Election

Dates and Deadlines to Note

Please note the following important dates for the 2024 Presidential Primary Election:

• Saturday, March 23: Last day for voter registration forms to be received by the Board of Election in person or by mail in order to vote in the April 2, 2024 Presidential Primary.
• Saturday, March 23 - Saturday, March 30, 2024: Early Voting
• April 2, 2024: Presidential Primary Election. Additional information about how to obtain Absentee and Early Mail ballots and dates and deadlines for in-person and by-mail voting can be found at the New York State Board of Elections website.

Visit the LWVS 2024 Presidential Primary page for additional deadlines and information relating to the Presidential Primary Election.

New York State Redistricting

On February 28, 2024, the New York State Legislature approved a new congressional district map drawn by Democrats that makes significant changes to 2 (out of 26) districts versus the maps that were put in place in 2022. Minor changes were made to a handful of the other 24 districts, including a slight change in the Bronx section of CD 16. If Governor Hochul signs the new map into law, and if there is no appeal, these districts will be in place for voting from 2024 through 2030. 

For background: Following the December 12, 2023 New York State Court of Appeals ruling in the New York State congressional district map case, the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) reconvened to create a new district map, with the requirement that their proposed new map be submitted to the New York State Legislature for approval by February 28, 2024. 

On February 15, 2024, the IRC voted 9-1 to approve a new proposed district map to be submitted to the Legislature for approval, but on February 26, 2024, the New York State Legislature voted not to approve it. On February 27, Democratic lawmakers proposed the new map that was approved in the February 28 vote.  

Additional information can be found on the League of Women Voters of Westchester website: Redistricting

The League of Women Voters of the United States, our national organization, recently celebrated its 104th anniversary. The League has a long history of promoting and protecting the right to vote, educating voters, and encouraging active civic engagement. In this current moment in our country, when many state legislatures are passing legislation to restrict voting, the League continues to have an important role in ensuring that voting is accessible to all citizens. I am proud to serve this important organization.

On the local front, the LWVS has been busy with civic engagement during the past month. We held our Annual Program Consensus Meeting to revise our Proposed Local Program 2024-25 on which we will vote at our annual meeting on May 3. We also made recommendations to the LWVW and LWVNYS on their programming for the upcoming year. Finally, on February 29, we held our Consensus Meeting regarding this year’s School Board Nominating Committee (SBNC) election.

March will be another active month. We will hold information and consensus meetings on the Village Budget on March 11 at 10 AM, and on the School Budget on March 20 at 10 AM. Please join us for both.

On April 14, the LWVS will host a casual book discussion about North Woods by Daniel Mason. I look forward to good food and even better conversation!

I encourage all of you to remain engaged and active citizens–your civic involvement enhances and strengthens our community and our democracy!

Upcoming LWVS Events:

• Monday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m., Village Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, Village Hall, 3rd fl
• Wednesday, March 20 at 10:00 a.m., School Budget Information and Consensus Meeting, via Zoom.
• Sunday, April 14 at 7:00 p.m., LWVS Book Discussion, North Woods by Daniel Mason, private home.

All my best, 

Heedan Chung

March

• 3/11, Monday
• 9:00 a.m. Board Meeting, Village Hall, 3rd fl
• 10:00 a.m. Gen Membership and Info/Consensus Mtg - Village Budget, Village Hall
• 3/19, Tuesday:
• Village Election, 6am-9pm, Scarsdale Public Library, Scott Room
• 3/20, Wednesday:
• 10:00 a.m. Gen Membership and Info/Consensus Mtg - School Budget, Zoom
• 3/23, Saturday - 3/30, Saturday:
• Early Voting for Presidential Primary Election

April

• 4/2, Monday:
• Presidential Primary Election
• 4/8, Monday:
• 9:15 a.m. Board Meeting, Scarsdale Public Library
• 4/14, Sunday
• 7:00 p.m. Book Discussion, Private Home

May

• 5/3, Monday:
• 10:30 a.m. Annual Meeting and Luncheon, Scarsdale Golf Club
• 5/21, Tuesday:
• 7am-9pm. School Budget Vote and BOE Election, Scarsdale Middle School Gym

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2024-2025 Village Budget

 Monday, March 11, 2024

10:00 a.m.

Village Hall

The LWVS will convene a General Membership Information Session followed by a Consensus Meeting on the 2024-25 Proposed Village Budget on Monday, March 11 at 10:00 a.m at Village Hall. 

Village Administration and the Board of Trustees held several working meetings from December through late February. In the "first pass" meeting, Village Trustees reviewed all the departmental budget requests, attempting to envision needs for the next three to five years. This resulted in a funding gap of $8.7mm (larger than last year’s $7.4mm attributable largely to increases in fixed costs such as pension and health care). In subsequent meetings, the Village modified the first pass budget to account for additional revenue (sales tax interest) and include only high and middle level capital priorities. 

At the “second pass” meeting, Village staff announced that the funding gap had decreased by $835,000, largely due to the ability to finance the Heathcote Bridge project through a bond. This results in a proposed tax levy increase that is being debated via 3 different payment scenarios. A guiding principle that the Board and Village are attempting to incorporate into the way the funding gap is addressed, is to make sure that the Unassigned Fund Balance available for use, is used primarily for non-recurring expenses (so, primarily fixed capital expenses).

Village staff proposed 3 scenarios which all increase the tax levy at varying degrees, depending on which scenario is ultimately utilized to address the funding gap. The tax levy increase proposed would be 3.56% in scenario 1, 9.76% in scenario 2, and 4.43% in scenario 3. Scenario 1 utilizes the Unassigned Fund Balance to address the whole budget gap, whether budget items are non-recurring or recurring. Scenario 2 only utilizes the Unassigned Fund Balance for the non-recurring expenses, per the strong guidance on Fund Balance usage. Scenario 3 is a compromise between the first two payment scenarios, allocating more than the suggested unassigned fund balance towards the deficit, but not using it in its entirety. Scenario 1 is compliant with the New York State Tax Cap, and the additional 2 scenarios are not, but they are compliant with the guidelines for Unassigned Fund Balance usage. More details on these scenarios can be found online.

Upcoming Village Budget dates: 

• The public hearing on the tentative budget is slated for March 12 at 8pm.
• The final budget is scheduled to be adopted on April 23.
• The LWVS will hold its Information Session and General Membership Consensus Meeting on the 2023-24 Village Budget on Monday, March 11, at 10:00 a.m.

Questions? Email LWVS Village Budget Portfolio Chair Shilpa Spencer at [email protected].

LWVS General Membership and Consensus Meeting:

2024-25 School Budget

Wednesday, March 20th, 2024

10:00 a.m. via Zoom

Meeting ID: 819 3018 4515

Passcode: 137174

The LWVS will hold its School Budget Information and Consensus meeting on Wednesday, March 20th at 10:00 am via Zoom. Please join us!

The current preliminary 2024-25 budget has a projected Tax Levy of $186,800,653, representing a 5.08% budget to budget increase. The projected increase in the Tax Levy is 5.60% and the projected Tax Cap is 3.61%. The preliminary budget is $3,230,001 above the Tax Cap.

The District will scrutinize all the budget lines on a second pass. Board members suggested that, like last year, they do a public line-by-line analysis of any proposed budget exclusions. 

Some highlights of the 2024-25 Budget thus far are:

• Financial software transition to nVision leading to significant reduction in use of manual spreadsheets
• Projected self-insured health insurance reserve = $1,947,213 (decrease of $1,922,603)
• Salaries increases = $4,538,344
• Retirement contributions = $1,588,600 increase
• Transfer to capital (includes stormwater mitigation projects) = $1,490,000 ($770,000 increase)
• Debt Service = $590,000 decrease (due to payoff of 10-year energy performance contract)
• Non-discretionary Employee Pension Contribution Estimate Increases = $699,000 (TRS) and $889,000 (ERS)

2024-25 Other Major Budget Expenses increases include:

• Health benefits = $629,903
• Social Security = $375,948
• Technology (non-salary) = $375,948
• Furniture = $182,016
• Insurance premium (liability, etc.) = $171,177

Revenue considerations/applied use of designated reserves:

• $1,281,233 transfer from ERS, TRS, Health Insurances reserves (same as last year)

There was one dedicated session to receive public input on the budget on November 13th, 2023.

Upcoming School Budget dates:

• Monday, March 4 at 6:30 pm, Budget Study Session #2
• Monday, March 11 at 6:30 pm, Budget Study Session #3
• Monday, March 25 at 6:30 pm, Community Budget Forum and Review
• Monday, April 8 at 6:30 pm, Board of Education adopts the Budget
• Tuesday, May 21, Board of Education Public Budget Vote

The District has posted answers to some of the questions that LWVS submitted in November.

Please join us for our

LWVS Book Discussion

North Woods 

by Daniel Mason

Sunday, April 14, 2024

7:00 - 8:30 pm

Location, Private Home

We look forward to meeting in person for a lively discussion about North Woods by Daniel Mason. 

Named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best books of 2023, this novel follows the inhabitants of a single house in western Massachusetts over the course of several centuries, beginning with a runaway Puritan couple all the way up to inhabitants from the present day – it's “a time-spanning, genre-blurring work of storytelling magic” (The Washington Post). According to Goodreads, the book "shows the myriad, magical ways in which we’re connected to our environment and to one another, across time, language and space."

Bronx River Books in Scarsdale Village is offering a 10% discount on the purchase of the book when you mention you are participating in the League of Women Voters of Scarsdale Book Club.

We look forward to seeing you on April 14th!

LWVW Voting and Disabilities Rights Special Event

Co-sponsored by Westchester Disabled on the Move, Inc.

Rise Up People with Disabilities and Vote!

Don't let others decide your future

Thursday, March 14, 2024 at 7pm

Register for Zoom Webinar

All are welcome to attend this free webinar about NYS voting rights with an emphasis on those with disabilities.

Panelists

• Julia Solow, Lead New York State Organizer at Hand in Hand: The Network for Domestic Employers
• Martin Cahill, Legislative Chair for the American Council of the Blind of New York (ACBNY) and Vice President of the Westchester Chapter
• Donna Drumm, Assistant Professor, Legal Studies, Mercy University

LWVW President Kathy Meany will moderate the discussion. For more information, visit the LWVW event page.

Annual Finance Drive

Please support your local league by donating to the

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale!

We need your support! Please be generous.

Your contribution will directly support our programs:

Candidate Debates

Voter Information

They Represent You

Students Inside Albany

Speaker Programs

and

Our studies on local issues and budgets

Will you help us promote active participation in our democracy? Whether you are new to our distinguished organization or have been involved for years, the LWVS invites you to become a member for the 2023-2024 year. Your membership in the LWVS automatically grants you membership in the county, state and national leagues. 

Here in Scarsdale, the LWVS works to provide clear and accurate voter information, hosts candidate forums, studies and evaluates policies impacting our community, and educates residents about issues. Our activities also include:

• Speaker programs and other membership events;
• Information sessions and consensus meetings on Village and school elections and budgets;
• Fall and Spring book groups;
• Winter Social;
• Youth Engagement through voter registration, mock elections, civics jeopardy, and Students Inside Albany

Please join the LWVS and stay engaged, informed, and active! Your membership will enhance and strengthen our democracy.

If you have any questions, please contact LWVS Membership Chair Diksha Mudbhary at [email protected]. 

LWVS Nominating Committee



The LWVS Nominating Committee 2023-24 is calling for nominations to fill League Board Officer and Director positions for the 2024-25 year. The LWVS Nominating Committee will also fill off-board member positions for the Nominating Committee 2024-25.

If you would like to nominate yourself or a friend to be considered for the League Board or the LWVS Nominating Committee 2024-25, kindly contact Nominating Committee Chair Alissa Baum at [email protected].

Here is a list of our 2023-24 Nominating Committee members, all of whom are able to receive nominations for discussion and consideration:

Alissa Baum* (Chair)

Kerry Hayes**

Susan Lee

Laura Liu**

Diksha Mudbhary

*Off-board member approved by LWVS Board in January, 2024

**Off-board members approved at our annual meeting in May, 2023

Thank You

The LWVS thrives with the support and hard work of a community of volunteers. I would like to thank the League volunteers who contributed their creativity, time, and energy during the month of February.

Thanks to Dana Matsushita for her highly detailed and hard work on the LWVS Bulletin and our membership eblasts.

Thanks to League Treasurer, Erika Rublin, for organizing our League financials and for her work, with Anne Lyons, on our annual finance drive.

Thanks as well to our Recording Secretary and Webmaster, Diane Baylor, for keeping detailed minutes of our meetings and making sure our website is up-to-date.

Thanks to Cindy Yau for her work on Students Inside Albany and attracting such incredible applicants.

Thanks to Diksha Mudbary for her work on the School Election System. 

Thanks to Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead for their continued work on the School Budget Study.

Thanks as well to Shilpa Spencer for keeping the Board and our community apprised of the Village Budget process.

Thanks to Kathy Gray for her work on Voter Service and for keeping the community informed about redistricting.

Thanks to Jenny Tabak for summarizing the League of Women Voters of New York State Program for our Programming Consensus Meeting and for her sage advice.

Thanks to Diane Baylor, Dalya Khan, and Nan Eileen Mead for taking on additional roles in education and advocacy.

Thanks to Susan Lee and Jyoti Ruta for their thoughtful advice and Board work. 

Thanks to Kitt Rosenthal for serving as our liaison to the LWVW.

Thanks to the LWVS Nominating Committee for their continued work on 2024-25 Board positions.

I would like to extend deep thanks to Evelyn Stock for her work in choosing one

Scarsdale student to attend this year’s Students Inside Albany conference.



I look forward to all the positive work that lies before us!

All my best,

Heedan Chung

Village of Scarsdale

As of February 29, 2024

Board of Trustees

Justin Arest, Mayor

  Term ends April 2025

Randall Whitestone, Deputy Mayor

  2nd term ends April 2024

Sameer Ahuja

  1st term ends April 2025

Karen Brew

  2nd term ends April 2025

Jeremy Gans

  1st term ends April 2024

Dara Gruenberg

  1st term ends April 2025

Ken Mazer

  1st term ends April 2024

Board of Education

Ronald Schulhof, President

  2nd term ends June 2025

Suzie Hahn, Vice President

  1st term ends June 2025

Colleen Brown

  1st term ends June 2025

Jim Dugan

  1st term ends June 2024

Robert Klein

  2nd term ends June 2026

Jessica Resnick-Ault

  1st term ends June 2024

Amber Yusuf

   2nd term ends June 2026

League of Women Voters of Scarsdale

2023-24

Officers

President: Heedan Chung

[email protected]

First Vice President: Jenny Simon Tabak

Second Vice President: Anne Lyons

Recording Secretary: Diane Baylor

[email protected]

Corresponding Secretary: Dana Matsushita

[email protected]

Treasurer: Erika Rublin

[email protected]

2023-24 Elected Board Members

Dalya Khan

Susan Lee

Nan Eileen Mead

Diksha Mudbhary

Jyoti Ruta

Shilpa Spencer

Cindy Yau

2023-24 Appointed Board Members

Kathy Gray

Kitt Rosenthal

Abigail Ruane

Committee Chairs

Advocacy: TBD

Audit: Amber Yusuf (Off-Board)

Book Group: Dalya Khan

Budget: Nancy Michaels (Off-Board) 

Bylaws, Policies, and Procedures: Diane Baylor

Communications:

• Bulletin Editor: Dana Matsushita 
• Eblast: Dana Matsushita  
• Publicity:  Heedan Chung
• Social Media: Dana Matsushita 
• Website: Diane Baylor 

Development/Finance Drive: Anne Lyons

Environment/Sustainability: Shilpa Spencer

Hospitality: Kitt Rosenthal

Local Budgets:

• School Budget: Dalya Khan and Nan Eileen Mead 
• Village Budget: Shilpa Spencer 

Local Election Systems:

• School Election: Diksha Mudbhary 
• Village Election: Diane Baylor 

Luncheons: Anne Lyons

LWVW Liaison: Kitt Rosenthal

Membership: Diksha Mudbhary 

• Membership Statistician: Jenny Simon Tabak 

Nominating Chair: Alissa Baum (Off-Board) 

Planning and Zoning: Shilpa Spencer

Program/Education: Cindy Yau

Voter Service: Kathy Gray

• Candidate Forum(s)
• Naturalization Court
• Voter Registration Drive(s)

Youth Engagement:

• Civics Jeopardy: Susan Lee
• Mock Election: Susan Lee
• Students Inside Albany: Cindy Yau

Democracy is Not a Spectator Sport –

Get Involved!

The League of Women Voters

Creating A More Perfect Democracy 

For Over 100 Years

The League of Women Voters of Scarsdale (LWVS) is a volunteer nonpartisan political organization which promotes political responsibility through informed and active participation of citizens in government. The League is nonpartisan in that it does not support or oppose any candidate for public office; it is political in that it takes positions on selected governmental issues after serious member study and consensus.