Hastings-on-Hudson Sets Hearing On $51M School Budget For 2020-21

HASTINGS, NY — Hastings-on-Hudson Union Free School District will hold its annual budget hearing on June 1 at 7 p.m. via teleconference. The proposed spending Hudson-on-Hastings administrators and trustees are putting before voters is $51 million.

Residents can join the meeting using this link or by calling +1 (571) 317-3112 and entering the access code: 521-459-797

Hastings' budget grew by $526,567, or 1.03 percent, from the 2019-2020 school year. A tax levy increase of 2.95 percent is proposed. You can check out the draft spending plan for 2020-21.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo has warned that the economic effect of the shutdown imposed to curb the outbreak could mean much less money available for state education aid. The state will be assessing and adjusting its budget several times in the course of 2020. Cuomo's last estimate was that state aid would be 20 percent lower than already promised.

The school said in its budget proposal that it expects around $4,907,485 in state aid next year, although a 5 percent reduction would leave the district with $4,649,038 in state aid, and a 10 percent reduction would result in $4,390,592 from the state.

Things to know:

• School district budget votes and school board elections are by absentee ballot only in 2020.
• Absentee ballots will be mailed to all registered voters in the district the week of May 25.
• If you are not registered, you may register by mail with the County Board of Elections or apply through the state online.

To vote, you must be:

• A United States citizen
• At least 18 yrs of age by June 9, 2020
• A resident of the district by May 10, 2020
• Cannot have been disqualified from voting based upon a reason described in Election Law §5-106.