Public budget hearing and vote for Pocantico Hills Central School District.

Notice of Public Budget Hearing, Budget Vote and Election NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the public budget hearing of the qualified voters of the Pocantico Hills Central School District, Westchester County, New York, will be held in the School House at Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York, Thursday, May 7, 2026 at 7:30 P.M., prevailing time, for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the school year 2026-2027. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the vote on the budget and election of Board members will be held on May 19, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, in the School House Gymnasium at Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items: 1. To adopt the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District. 2. Shall the Board of Education of the Pocantico Hills Central School District be authorized to construct the following improvements to the Pocantico Hills School Building and facilities: renovation of the library and library offices, pool improvements, toilet room renovations, renovations and improvements to athletic fields, drainage and stormwater management, playground replacement, landscaping, fencing, exterior lighting improvements, exterior pedestrian improvements and walkways, building infrastructure improvements and security improvements, and associated building and site improvements, at a maximum estimated cost of $6,500,000, with the amount of $6,500,000 from the Capital Reserve III Fund to be used to pay for the cost of the improvements, such expenditure and the transfer of such funds are hereby approved. The costs of the components of the Project may be reallocated among such components if the Board determines that it is in the best interest of the District. To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education, as follows: Two members for a three (3) year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029. To transact such other business as may properly come before the voters. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District's budget for 2026-2027, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during business hours beginning May 5, 2025, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Business Office in the School House at Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York, at any public or free association library in the District, and on the District's website. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any tentative/preliminary budget as well as the final adopted budget of which it will form a part; and shall be posted on District bulletin board(s) maintained for public notices, as well as on the District's website. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at her Office in the School House Building, not later than April 20, 2026, between 8:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated; must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence address of each signer, and, must state the name and residence address of the candidate. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for Absentee Ballots and applications for Early Mail Ballots may be obtained during school business hours from the District Clerk. Completed applications for Absentee Ballots and Early Mail Ballots must be received by the District Clerk no more than thirty (30) days and at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter or the voter's authorized agent designated in the application at the District Clerk's Office. Absentee Ballots and Early Mail Ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 P.M., prevailing time, on May 19, 2026. Separate lists of all persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued, early mail ballots have been issued, and military voters to whom military ballots have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District at the Office of the District Clerk during regular office hours, until the day of the Election and Vote. Any qualified voter may file a written challenge of the qualifications of a voter whose name appears on any such list, stating the reasons for the challenge. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election without further registration; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote in general, special and primary elections under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election without further registration. All other persons who wish to vote must register with either the School District or the County Board of Elections. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that qualified voters may register for the May 19, 2026 budget vote and election at the District Clerk's Office in the School House at Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York, weekdays during regular school hours until, and including, May 14, 2026. A qualified voter is one who is a citizen of the United States, eighteen (18) years of age or older, a resident within the District for a period of thirty (30) days immediately preceding the aforesaid budget vote and election, and not otherwise prohibited from voting under the Election Law. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District at 599 Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on May 15, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, except Sunday, and at the polling place on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law, the Board of Registration will meet during the Annual Meeting on May 19, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, at the School House at Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York to prepare the Register of the District to be used at any school district meetings held after May 19, 2026. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that Military Voters who are not currently registered to vote may obtain an application to register as a qualified voter of the District, and Military Voters who are registered to vote may obtain an application for a military ballot, for the Annual Meeting on May 19, 2026, by contacting the District Clerk at 599 Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, NY 10591, Telephone (914) 631-2440, or email: gdownes@pocanticohills.org. The Military Voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration and/or ballot application by mail, by facsimile or email. The completed application to register and/or for a military ballot must be received by the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 P.M. on April 23, 2026. Military ballots will be mailed or otherwise distributed no later than 25 days before the election. The register of voters prepared and filed in the District Clerk's office shall include the names of all military voters who submit a valid military voter registration. Military ballots must be returned by mail or in person and received by the District Clerk by 5:00 P.M. on May 19, 2026. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to the rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 and §2008 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Board of Education at the Office of the District Clerk, 599 Bedford Road, Sleepy Hollow, New York on or before April 20, 2026 at 5:00 P.M., prevailing time or by March 20, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. if the proposition must be included in all four legal notices; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the Distri