Like other school districts on Long Island, the West Hempstead School District is trying its best to put together a budget for the 2009-2010 school year that district taxpayers can afford while providing services for students. But, also like other school districts, West Hempstead is dealing with budget constraints that have come from a national recession and a state budget crisis.

In a budget presentation held on March 10, it was pointed out that West Hempstead is dealing with a shortfall in state aid to the tune of over $700,000. The federal economic stimulus may return state aid levels to what they were in 2008-2009.

Thus far, the West Hempstead School District is discussing a budget that reflects a 1.72 percent increase in spending over the 2008-2009 budget.

The board of education will be holding another budget workshop on March 24 at 7:30 p.m. in the West Hempstead High School video conference room.