Hastings-on-Hudson budget targets 3.19% tax-cap hike; proposed 0.6 music cut draws parental and student concern

The Hastings-on-Hudson Board of Education on March 19 heard a detailed instructional-budget presentation that would increase district spending to $59,645,000 for 2024–25 and use the full 3.19% allowable tax-cap increase. Administrators and the superintendent said much of the roughly $2 million spending rise is driven by external costs such as insurance and mandated retirement contributions and by contractual salary obligations.

The budget presenters said the district plans to balance the spending plan with a combination of state aid, restricted reserves, and the proposed tax levy. "We are proposing in our current budget to levy up to that 3.19 allowable tax cap," the district presenter said, and noted that the district received about $8.4 million in state aid this year. The administration recommended a cautious use of reserves and said any additional state aid later in the process should reduce reliance on appropriated fund balance.

Why it matters: the spending plan frames staffing, program and class‑section decisions for next year. District leaders emphasized the budget's instructional focus and the goal of maintaining curricular offerings while responding to enrollment shifts and fixed outside costs.

Music staffing and community reaction

A central point of public comment Wednesday was the administration's proposal not to restore a 0.6 FTE music position that had been partially funded in earlier years. Administrators and the music department presented a schedule that they said would maintain current course offerings and lessons by reallocating assignments among existing staff. "I've been assured that we are preserving the full fidelity of our program, and again, more than one option was presented," a district official said during the presentation.

Community members and student leaders pushed back. "The proposal on the table here is to cut from 6 to 5 teachers," public commenter Andy Zimmerman told the board, urging the administration to provide precise headcounts for ensembles and lesson rosters. "Some ensembles are bursting at the seams," he added, and warned that reductions could conflict with state requirements for middle‑school music offerings.

At least one parent and AMP member, Bridal Kaufman, asked the district to reconsider the reduction, saying music participation and ensemble sizes have grown: "Students are coming to me outraged and angered by the lack of fulfillment of Mr. Urbino's music department position," a student liaison told the board during the student report, reflecting widespread student concern about individualized instruction and teacher workload.

Administration response and next steps

Administrators said the 0.6 reduction reflects a retirement and earlier staffing decisions, and stressed that scheduling changes and shared staffing historically used in Hastings would allow the district to continue lessons, ensembles and AP offerings without violating contract hours. The superintendent said the board and administration will "watch it very, very closely" and can revisit the staffing if program quality or student needs show slippage.

The presentation also outlined other budget specifics: the district budget-to-budget increase of roughly $2 million from a $57,000,609 base; planned transfers to capital (a $275,000 recommended transfer next year, down from $550,000 this year); anticipated use of appropriated fund balance and reserves; and planned increases for special education and substitute teachers. District officials repeatedly warned that special education needs and individual student placements can force midyear staffing changes and erode savings.

No final vote on the overall budget occurred Wednesday; the board approved routine consent agenda items and several personnel motions. The administration will post the full presentation and continue the multi‑meeting budget review ahead of the May budget and trustee vote.