West Hempstead presents $77.8 million 2024–25 budget, warns of eight teaching positions at risk

West Hempstead Union Free School District officials on April 9 presented a proposed $77,834,290 budget for 2024–25 and said the plan would use reserves and a 2.34% tax levy but still leave a gap that could force the elimination of eight teaching positions.

"One of our top priorities is maintaining a high‑quality education for our students," Mr. Raymond (speaker 3) told attendees at the public budget review, "but despite a proposed tax levy increase of 2.34% and utilizing a major portion of our reserves, we still face difficult decisions for the upcoming school year." He said significant increases in health‑insurance and transportation costs — "totalling approximately two and a half million dollars" — are the main drivers of the shortfall.

Mr. Phillips (speaker 4), who led the budget presentation, put the proposed total at $77,834,290. "By significant amount, the largest percentage increase of the budget is transportation, which is projected to increase by 16.78%," he said, and added that medical insurance is projected to increase by more than $1,000,000 and transportation by more than $1,200,000.

The presentation showed the district projecting only a 2.16% increase in state aid under the governor's proposal and noted a foundation‑aid shortfall called out on the slides. Phillips said a recent PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) arrangement for the National Liquidator site and changes by the Town of Hempstead IDA shifted roughly $417,000 off the standard levy calculation, allowing the presented 2.34% levy figure.

District officials and board members repeatedly told the public that using reserves and fund balance to close gaps is not sustainable long term. The slides and discussion showed multi‑year use of reserves and a warning that repeated depletion would leave the district less able to respond to unforeseen costs. Board members said the district is allowed an unappropriated fund balance up to 4% under state rules but emphasized the need to preserve a prudent reserve level.

Public commenters and residents at the meeting pressed officials on several topics: the practical tax impact of the levy and the PILOT shift, the scope of smart‑bond funds for security upgrades, why transportation costs have grown, and how teacher cuts would be handled. A resident (speaker 6) asked whether the Heatherwood PILOT means taxpayers must make up about $1.6 million; officials confirmed the PILOT moves revenues off the levy and that county assessment and distribution decisions affect individual tax bills.

Several audience members argued that a large number of tax‑exempt properties — particularly religious exemptions — and a high share of private‑school students in the district increase net local costs. A public commenter (speaker 9) urged school boards to lobby at the county and state level to change exemptions or funding formulas.

Board members and officials discussed possible cost‑saving measures for transportation — including route consolidation, centralized pick‑up points, buying buses, and commissioning route audits — but cautioned that any changes must avoid creating unacceptably long ride times for students and that some options require upfront spending or contract renegotiation. The district said transportation aid shown on the slides increases only modestly (about $56,217) while contracted and private‑school busing costs have risen sharply.

No formal adoption or vote on the budget occurred at the April 9 review. Officials said the Board is scheduled to discuss and adopt the budget at the April board meeting (April 16), followed by the public budget hearing in early May and the budget vote on May 21 (Northside Gym, 7 a.m.–9 p.m.).

The district emphasized it will keep exploring options to limit program cuts while maintaining required services; absent additional state aid or other revenue, officials said staffing reductions are likely to be part of the plan to close the projected gap.