The Hendrick Hudson Central School District is continuing an active and ongoing effort to secure state and federal assistance as it works to address the lasting financial impact of the Indian Point shutdown and the significant loss of local revenue that is currently deeply affecting the District and local community.
The closure of Indian Point resulted in the loss of a major source of PILOT and tax revenue, reducing the district’s overall revenue base by between 25% and 30%, which equates to over $25 Million dollars for school year 2026 /2027. That loss continues to have a significant impact on the district’s budget as well as on the broader community.
Located in the northwestern portion of Westchester County, in the Town of Cortlandt, Hendrick Hudson serves a community that has historically been more affordable than many other parts of the county, in part due to the presence of Indian Point. District leaders note that the community does not have the same financial capacity as some higher-income areas of Westchester to absorb large increases in local taxes resulting from such a significant loss of revenue.
Over the past several weeks, district leadership has met with officials at multiple levels of government to advocate for relief and to outline the district’s current fiscal challenges. These efforts have included a meeting with Mike Lawler on March 6, a visit from representatives of Kirsten Gillibrand’s office on March 11, and a visit from a representative of Kathy Hochul’s office on March 13. Most recently, the district held a follow-up meeting on March 25 with Assistant Secretary for Education Ileana Infante to continue discussions around potential state support.
The district is also working closely with its state delegation, including Pete Harckham and Dana Levenberg, who have been engaged on the issue in Albany. District leaders noted that past state budget support has helped offset a portion of the revenue loss, and emphasized that continued action at the state level will be critical in the coming days as final state budget negotiations continue in Albany.
With the state budget currently under active negotiation past its April 1 deadline, district leaders emphasized that this is a critical window for action.
“The loss of Indian Point revenue continues to have a real and measurable impact on our district,” said Superintendent Michael A. Tromblee. “We are actively working with our partners in government to identify solutions that will help stabilize our finances, protect our educational programs, and reduce the pressure on local taxpayers.”
At the state level, the district is advocating for several targeted forms of relief, including adjustments to the Foundation Aid formula to better reflect districts that have experienced sudden and significant losses in local revenue; greater flexibility within New York’s tax cap framework in cases of abrupt tax-base reduction; continued and strategic use of cessation mitigation resources; and direct state aid to help address immediate short-term gaps while maintaining program continuity for students.
“We are hopeful that there are real opportunities for the Governor to provide meaningful assistance as final budget decisions are being made,” said Superintendent Tromblee. “Through the state’s Electric Generation Facility Cessation Mitigation Program, there are funds that have been allocated but remain unutilized. Making those resources available would provide immediate relief to a community and to students who continue to feel the impact of this significant revenue loss.”
The district has also engaged federal representatives on longer-term solutions, including legislation related to communities that continue to host spent nuclear fuel. District leaders have emphasized that while the plant has closed, the community continues to bear an ongoing responsibility that was once accompanied by significant local revenue.
“These conversations are important, and we appreciate the time and attention that our elected officials have given to this issue,” said Superintendent Tromblee. “At the same time, the challenges facing our district remain, and we will continue to advocate for meaningful action that reflects the scale of the impact on our students and our community.”
The district will continue to provide updates as these efforts move forward, including discussions with state and federal partners and any actions taken to support Hendrick Hudson.
