All school districts in Orleans see state aid increases under governor’s budget

Gov. Kathy Hochul presented her executive budget on Tuesday and it shows increases for all five school districts in Orleans County.

Collectively the five districts in the county were budgeted for $121.45 million in state funding for the 2025-26 school year. That is projected to increase by $2,327,334 to $123.78 million in 2026-27, as part of the governor’s executive budget.

Here are the totals for each district:

• Albion – $37,980,717 in 2025-26 to $38,801,718, up by $821,001 or 2.16 percent
• Holley – $21,595,359 in 2025-26 to $22,204,243, up by $608,884 or 2.82 percent
• Kendall – $14,984,382 in 2025-26 to $15,195,968, up by $211,586 or 1.41 percent
• Lyndonville – $12,944,009 in 2025-26 to $13,195,388, up by $251,379 or 1.94 percent
• Medina – $33,948,527 in 2025-26 to $34,383,011, up by $434,484 or 1.28 percent

Hochul’s $260 billion budget provides $39.3 billion in total school aid, a $1.6 billion increase over the previous year, or 4.3 percent.

That includes $779 million more in Foundation Aid, the state’s primary school funding formula. Each district will receive at least a 1 percent year-to-year increase, bringing Foundation Aid to a total of $27.1 billion.

Hochul is proposing a major increase, 52.5 percent or $561 million more, for universal prekindergarten. She wants to make full-day Pre-K universal for all 4-year-olds in the state by the start of the 2029 school year.

The New York State United Teachers issued this statement in response to Hochul’s budget:

“Gov. Kathy Hochul’s executive budget proposal underscores the critical role that public education, from early childhood through higher education, plays in strengthening New York’s families, economy and future,” said NYSUT President Melinda Person.

“NYSUT welcomes the governor’s proposal to increase school aid, including a 3 percent increase in Foundation Aid overall, providing districts with stability while building on the state’s long-standing commitment to public schools. We look forward to additional updates to ensure the formula best serves all of New York’s students. We also strongly support the continued investment in universal school meals, ensuring students are ready to learn and families can count on this essential support.

“The proposal’s investments in early childhood education are an important step forward. By supporting truly universal pre-K, the state is giving districts resources to expand and to bring these programs into public schools and ensure they are delivered by certified teachers.”