Rye City School District utility costs are expected to jump more than 11 percent for the 2026-27 school year, as statewide energy prices continue to rise.
The district is prepared to spend approximately $175,000 more in electric and gas costs next academic year across all its schools: Rye High and Rye Middle, as well as the Milton, Midland, and Osborn schools.
Even with the expected increases, however, Superintendent Tricia Murray told The Record the district doesn’t plan to make significant budget cuts in other areas to make up the difference.
“The district plans for facilities costs, including utilities, conservatively to ensure we always have enough funds to cover any unanticipated increases,” Murray said. “There are no reductions in programming or staffing as a result of expected increases in utility charges.”
During the March 24 Board of Education meeting, Robert Gimigliano, the district’s facilities director, said he expects utility cost increases between 5 percent and 12 percent, not just in electric and gas, but also in water and oil. The hike is attributed to rising delivery and consumption costs, and volatility in the global oil market during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The district receives its electricity from the New York Power Authority and its gas from Con Edison.
“Ultimately, it’s always an upward trend in terms of cost,” Gimigliano said.
Gimigliano also noted the projections account for approximately 7,900 square feet of extra space added to both the Midland and Osborn schools. The district expects to finish a construction project this spring, removing the 20-year-old portable trailer classrooms.
Earlier this year, the New York State Public Service Commission, which regulates utility companies, approved ConEd’s proposal to institute 10.1 percent and 15.8 percent increases for electricity and gas, respectively, over a three-year period starting in 2026.
The commission’s approval drew significant criticism from Rye residents and elected officials, who claim energy costs, specifically ConEd rates, have already put families under significant financial strain.
Democratic state Sen. Shelly Mayer, who represents Rye in Albany, last year introduced four bills to regulate utility companies and their profit margins, which ultimately didn’t pass the state Assembly. She has even indicated she’d be interested in possibly scrapping New York’s energy cost-setting methodology altogether.
Additionally, Westchester County Executive Ken Jenkins and the county Board of Legislators announced on Thursday they’d signed a brief calling for “stronger oversight of proposed rate increases” for two other state utility companies: New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG) and Rochester Gas & Electric (RG&E).
The Rye Board of Education will adopt its annual budget at the next meeting on April 14.
This story was updated on April 3.
