In order to close a $20 million budget gap, the New Rochelle Board of Education has proposed a budget for 2025-2026 that includes the loss of about 200 staff positions and a 3.95% increase in school property taxes. Because the proposed tax increase exceeds the state tax cap, the budget will need to pass with a 60% majority when it is presented to voters on May 20. If the voters reject the Board’s budget proposals twice, the school district could be forced to operate on a “contingent budget,” with no increase from the current year’s budget, forcing even more staff reductions.

New Rochelle residents will have several opportunities over the next several weeks to hear directly about the proposed budget from the city’s educational leaders prior to the May 20 vote. The Board will hold a formal budget hearing on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 pm in the Whitney Young Auditorium at New Rochelle High School. In addition, a series of budget meetings will be held at schools throughout the district and over Zoom, sponsored by the PTSAs of each school. Superintendent of Schools Dr. Corey Reynolds and Assistant Superintendent for Business Carlos Leal will speak at each meeting and take questions and comments.

All meetings are open to the public. Residents can join tonight’s NRHS meeting at 7 pm by clicking here. Zoom links for future meetings will be posted here as they become available. Details about the proposed budget, including the full budget document and recordings of presentations about the budget at recent Board meetings, are available here.