New York State Senators Shelley B. Mayer and Pete Harckham announced today that an additional $2 million in financial aid from the Senate is being appropriated for the Hendrick Hudson School District in the FY2026-2027 State Budget. This funding, the fourth time the State Senate has come through for the Hen Hud schools, will be combined with the school aid, Foundation aid and Universal Pre-Kindergarten funding the district is already slated to receive.
Senators Mayer and Harckham made the announcement and presented a $2 million check facsimile to the Hendrick Hudson School District during a visit to Furnace Woods Elementary School. They were welcomed by Hen Hud Schools Superintendent Michael Tromblee, other school officials, and a group of second grade students, who thanked them for securing the funding.
The Hendrick Hudson School District lost $8 million of funding in 2021 from the closure of the Indian Point Nuclear Facility in Buchanan, NY, and although the State Legislature and Governor Hochul increased the district aid package considerably in the following year’s budget, an immediate gap remained between anticipated revenue (including state aid) and projected costs. An extra $1 million of State Senate funding initially delivered in August 2022 helped prevent staff layoffs and classroom overcrowding.
“The Hendrick Hudson School District took a massive financial hit through no fault on its part,” said Harckham. “In the State Senate, we established a special fund for school districts impacted by power plant closures. I will never stop fighting to support Hen Hud’s students, educators and taxpayers. A big thank you to Hen Hud Superintendent Michael Tromblee, the school board and teachers’ union for their exceptional advocacy on this issue.”
Harckham added that Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins and Senator Shelley Mayer, chair of the Senate Education Committee, were instrumental in arranging the additional funding for the Hendrick Hudson school district in the last four state budgets, and said, “Their tireless support for education in New York is unparalleled, and I thank them for focusing on the needs of this particular district.”
“I am pleased to join Senator Pete Harckham, Superintendent Michael Tromblee, our legislative colleagues, and the Hendrick Hudson community in announcing $2 million in State funding for the Hendrick Hudson School District,” said Mayer. “This critical investment will help the district continue providing an outstanding education while addressing the significant financial challenges resulting from the closure of Indian Point. Every student deserves a quality, stable education, and I am proud that under the leadership of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, New York makes it a priority. I thank my colleague, Senator Pete Harckham for his partnership, commitment to our schools, and advocacy on behalf of the Hendrick Hudson community.”
Tromblee said, “Senators Mayer and Harckham have been extraordinary partners to the Hendrick Hudson School District, consistently championing our students and community as we navigate the lasting financial impacts of the Indian Point closure. We are deeply grateful to our State Senator Pete Harckham, Senator Shelley Mayer, Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins, and all of our legislative partners for securing this additional $2 million investment in our schools.”
Tromblee added, “While this funding does not solve the long-term fiscal challenges created by the closure of Indian Point, it provides meaningful support as we continue that transition. Every additional investment in our district helps protect educational opportunities for our students while easing some of the financial pressures facing our community.”
With the Indian Point Payment In Lieu Of Taxes (PILOT) agreement with the Hendrick Hudson School District decreasing over the next number of years, the New York State Department of Education and Office of the Budget have confirmed that state aid to the district will increase nearly four-fold in the coming years.
Along with the $2 million grant that Harckham announced today, the Hendrick Hudson district is receiving $19.3 million in school aid, a 2.1% increase from last year, in the FY2026-2027 State Budget.
