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Budget

Schools
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap
Board Of Ed To Discuss Closing School In Westchester As Part Of Addressing $101M Budget Gap A Westchester County school's future depends on decisions made in an upcoming Board of Education meeting, officials said.  The possible closure of School 21 in Yonkers will be discussed during a Board of Education meeting on Tuesday night, May 20, according to Yonkers Public Schools Superintendent Anibal Soler, Jr. Soler said the potential closure would be recommended in his proposed budget for the 2026-27 school year to address a $101 million structural budget gap.  The superintendent said the idea is part of an overall recommendation to address the district's financial situatio…

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by Ben Crnic
Business
New McDonald's Value Menu Launches With Expanded Deals: See What's On It New McDonald's Value Menu Launches With Expanded Deals: See What's On It
New McDonald's Value Menu Launches With Expanded Deals: See What's On It McDonald's has launched new value menu items and meal deals in an effort to win back budget-conscious customers facing rising costs. The fast-food giant officially debuted its new Under $3 Menu and updates to its McValue Menu on Tuesday, April 21. The Under $3 Menu features at least 10 items available all day, giving customers cheaper options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast choices on the Under $3 Menu include a Sausage McMuffin, Sausage Biscuit, Sausage Burrito, hash browns, and a medium McCafe Premium Roast Coffee. Later in the day, customers can order item…

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by Chris Spiker
Lifestyle
Create Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's Garden Proposal On A Budget: Here's How Much Create Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's Garden Proposal On A Budget: Here's How Much
Create Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce's Garden Proposal On A Budget: Here's How Much Swifties are gushing over Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's flower-filled engagement photos, but you don't need a record-breaking concert tour or an NFL contract to replicate the romantic scene. RentalHouse Property Management put together a budget of how much it would cost to gather all the flowers and plants for the backdrop that looks straight out of a fairytale. Swift and Kelce shared their engagement photos in an Instagram post on Tuesday, Aug. 26. The pictures show a romantic garden backdrop overflowing with roses, hydrangeas, and other delicate blooms. According to RentalHous…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Penny Pinched: US To Stop Producing One-Cent Coin, Reports Say Penny Pinched: US To Stop Producing One-Cent Coin, Reports Say
Penny Pinched: US To Stop Producing One-Cent Coin, Reports Say The federal government is pulling the penny from circulation, ending a historic run for the coin dating back to the country's early days, according to reports. The US Treasury made its final order of penny blanks and will stop distributing the one-cent coins by early 2026, the Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, May 22. A Treasury spokesperson confirmed the end of the penny to the Associated Press. The move is expected to save $56 million a year in materials, according to a Treasury official who spoke anonymously to preview the decision. Once existing penny supplies run out, busi…

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by Chris Spiker
Politics
Hochul Touts One-Time Baby Bonus For Eligible NY Families: Here's How Much To Expect Hochul Touts One-Time Baby Bonus For Eligible NY Families: Here's How Much To Expect
Hochul Touts One-Time Baby Bonus For Eligible NY Families: Here's How Much To Expect Expecting a baby? New York’s latest state budget will soon deliver a financial boost for some growing families. Low-income families with new babies who are on public assistance are eligible for an $1,800 birth allowance, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday, May 20. Known as the BABY Benefit (Birth Allowance for Beginning Year), the one-time cash payment was among a slate of measures in the newly passed FY 2026 state budget meant to ease the burden of birth-related expenses, Hochul’s office said. “By putting more money in the pockets of working families, the BABY Benefit will contribute …

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Trouble Ahead For Hochul In NY Governor's Race, Fresh Polling Shows Trouble Ahead For Hochul In NY Governor's Race, Fresh Polling Shows
Trouble Ahead For Hochul In NY Governor's Race, Fresh Polling Shows Fresh polling has alarm bells ringing in Albany. As New York’s 2026 race for governor begins to take shape, a new Siena College poll shows voters are craving new leadership, though incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul still leads potential Democratic challengers by a wide margin. The poll, released Tuesday, May 20, found that 36% of voters are ready to reelect Hochul, while 55% prefer “someone else,” a 10-point dip in support compared to last month. Her favorability rating sits at 44-46% and job approval at 50-46%—largely unchanged from April. Among Democrats, Hochul remains the frontrunner in a hy…

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by Michael Mashburn
Politics
Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase
Westchester Lawmakers Approve $2B Budget With Two-Percent Property Tax Increase The Westchester County Board of Legislators has approved a near $2 billion budget that represents a property tax hike of 2 percent. Lawmakers approved the $1.9 billion budget on Monday, with the measure quickly signed off by Westchester County Executive George Latimer. (See video above.) The budget was approved by a 13-4 vote, with the support of county Democrats. Officials said that the tax rate increase is to help offset tens of millions of dollars in deficits that the county is currently operating against. There are no planned cuts to staff or service in the approved budget, which is con…

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by Zak Failla
Business
Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating
Westchester County Loses AAA Credit Rating Westchester’s financial report card saw its credit rating cut one level by two prominent agencies. Westchester County was notified by S&P Global Ratings and Fitch Ratings that the county’s financial outlook has been downgraded to AA+.  Moody’s assigned Aa1 to Westchester, officials announced on Tuesday afternoon. The county has now lost its AAA rating - the highest ranking available - in each of the Big 3 rating agencies. Bloomberg News cited Westchester's move to "draw down its cash reserves to cover retroactive raises given to government employees" as the primary reason fo…

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by Zak Failla
Police & Fire
Rental Truck Driver Damages Stone Wall At Westchester Church, Takes Off In Mercedes Rental Truck Driver Damages Stone Wall At Westchester Church, Takes Off In Mercedes
Rental Truck Driver Damages Stone Wall At Westchester Church, Takes Off In Mercedes A strange scene unfolded in Westchester when the driver of a rental truck caused damage to a stone wall before taking off in a Mercedes, police said. The incident occurred at the Hitchcock School and Church in Scarsdale on Friday afternoon. After speaking with an employee at the Hitchcock School, it was determined that a Budget truck with an affixed trailer had struck and “heavily damaged” the stone wall while attempting to exit the lot. Scarsdale Police said that the driver was using the Hitchcock School and Church parking lot as a turn-around and was not there for any business with the c…

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by Zak Failla
Politics
What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business
What A New County Executive Means For Westchester Business Business leaders said they are optimistic about the future of Westchester County under the leadership of George Latimer as its chief executive officer. "The new county executive is committed to a positive business environment in Westchester, so we're very encouraged about that,'' said Marsha Gordon, president and CEO of the Business Council of Westchester. "I think there will be a continued focus on sustainability,'' Gordon told Daily Voice of the emphasis on moving toward greener, conservation-oriented office construction and energy-saving systems. There also will be a continued…

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by Jon Craig