April 25, 2024
PDF: HCSD Letter: 2024-25 Budget Approved by BoE to be Voted on
Dear Hudson City School District Community,
We are pleased to report that the 2024-2025 Hudson City School District budget was unanimously approved by the Board of Education Tuesday night. The public will vote on the $55,602,026 budget on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The budget, which represents a 2% increase from the current year’s budget of $54,509,530, aligns with the district’s vision, mission and key initiatives to equip students for college, careers and life, while being financially responsible to the community. In addition, the budget offers good news in several aspects:
- All General Fund student programs and services are maintained.
- The tax levy increase is 2%, less than the 3.42% maximum permitted under New York State’s tax cap. The tax levy is the amount of money collected via property taxes.
- Continued investments in classroom instruction and student support programs and services are provided in the budget.
If the budget is approved by voters, owners of properties with an assessed value of $200,000 would pay an additional $41 to $79 a year in school taxes. For owners of properties with an assessed value of $300,000, the difference is $62 to $112 a year. The amounts will differ based on the tax formulas in each of the communities – Claverack, Ghent, Greenport, Hudson, Livingston, Stockport and Taghkanic – that comprise the Hudson City School District.
The recent approval of New York State’s budget yielded additional welcome news: New York State increased its overall financial aid to the school district by $51,199 compared to the current school year. That aid amount is $ 26,939,682. The increase is notable because the initial state-aid projection would have reduced aid to Hudson by $2,928,220. That would have resulted in a 3.2% tax levy increase and the school district shifting approximately a total of $3 million from its fund balance and reserves to close the gap. Instead, the additional state aid means only $565,000 will be used from the fund balance, which is the amount of money left over at the end of a financial year, either from money unspent or additional revenue.
At the Board of Education meeting Tuesday, Superintendent Dr. Juliette Pennyman praised elected representatives who advocated for school districts to have aid restored. “Thank you to our legislative representatives,” she said. “We, as a district, were able to recoup $2.9 million in state aid. We are very happy about that.”
Chief Financial Officer Tabatha Biggane told the Board of Education that the restored aid is key to future financial planning. “This allows our district to place ourselves in a better financial position going forward,” she said.
Biggane also told the Board that New York State will reformulate how it determines aid to school districts. As such, the Hudson district continues to prioritize replenishing its financial reserves and refining a long-range financial plan that takes into account contractual needs, increasing costs and fluctuations in student enrollment and student needs.
School district budgets cover from July 1 to June 30 each year. On May 21, voters are urged to consider the budget and candidates for the Board of Education (candidacies will be finalized on May 1). For information on registering to vote, voting locations and absentee ballots, click here. Information presented to the public and Board of Education regarding the proposed 2024-25 budget can be viewed here.
Several additional key dates related to the budget and Board of Education election are upcoming:
- Thursday, April 25, 2024: Voter Registration Day, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Hudson Junior Senior High School cafeteria. Click here to learn more.
- Tuesday, April 30, 2024: Budget forum for the public, led Superintendent Pennyman and Chief Financial Officer Biggane. 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Hudson Area Library, 51 North 5th St., Hudson.
- Wednesday, May 1, 2024: Deadline for Board of Education candidates to submit nominating petitions to the district clerk by 5 p.m.
- Monday, May 6, 2024: Budget forum for the public, led by Dr. Pennyman and Chief Financial Officer Biggane. Greenport Community Center, 500 Town Hall Drive, Hudson, 6 p.m.
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024: Budget Public Hearing/Board of Education meeting, 6 p.m., Hudson Junior Senior High School library. This is the public’s opportunity to comment on the budget to the Board of Education.
- Tuesday, May 7, 2024: The last day to register to vote.
- Thursday, May 16, 2024: Budget forum led by Dr. Pennyman and Ms. Biggane. Hudson City Department of Youth, 18 South 3rd St., Hudson, 6 p.m.
Thank you for your investment in our students’ futures. Please remember to vote on May 21!
Sincerely,
The Hudson City School District
#HudsonTogetherWeCan!