The Westchester Brief | 03.31.26: Yonkers Schools Are $101M Short

Send us Fan MailIN-PLAYER SHOW NOTESYonkers Public Schools faces a $101 million budget gap for the 2026-27 school year. The district serves 23,000 students, has a 93% graduation rate — the highest among New York's Big Five — and is running out of reserves. The state funding formula groups Yonkers with rural counties 90 miles north instead of Westchester. The budget deadline is tomorrow. Plus: the Cesar Chavez school renaming debate, Pleasantville's $17.5M bond vote, and the Rye Lake Water Filtration Plant breaks ground.In This Episode:0:00 Cold Open: $101 million gap, budget deadline tomorrow0:40 Superintendent Soler on the last of the reserves1:30 The Foundation Aid Formula problem2:30 Rockefeller Institute findings on the cost index3:15 Special education costs and healthcare surges4:00 Governor's budget vs. Senate and Assembly proposals4:30 Quick Hits: Cesar Chavez school, Pleasantville bond, Rye Lake plant6:15 Closing remarksSubscribe on YouTube for the video version of The Westchester Brief with full timestamps.Support the showI Live Here Westchester is a production of I Live Here Media.We spotlight the voices, visionaries, and stories that make Westchester County more than just a place to live—it’s a place to belong.Have a guest suggestion or want to partner with us?Email: [email protected]: www.iliveheremedia.comFollow us on Instagram: @iliveheremediaSubscribe, rate, and share to support local storytelling.