Public hearing for school budget presentation and annual meeting details.

LEGAL NOTICE

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Waterford Halfmoon Union Free School District will be held at the Waterford-Halfmoon School Library, 125 Middletown Road, Waterford, New York, on May 7, 2026 at 6:30pm, prevailing time, for the presentation of the budget document. The budget will be available for review beginning April 28, 2026 at the Waterford-Halfmoon School Main Of- fice, 125 Middletown Road, Waterford, New York. AND NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the annual meeting of the qualified voters of the Waterford- Halfmoon Union Free School District will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 noon and 8:00 pm, prevailing time, in the Audito- rium Lobby of the Waterford Halfmoon School, 125 Middletown Road, Water- ford, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine ballot upon the following items: 1. To adopt the annual budget of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free 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. To authorize the district to (1) cre- ate a Capital Reserve Fund for the purpose of financing the construction of, general improvements, reconstruction, renovations, and/or additions to the District's buildings, including site work, and the acquisition of original fur- nishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purposes for which such buildings are to be used; (2) the ultimate amount of such fund shall be $4,000,000; and (3) annually deposit into the Capital Reserve Fund such portion of the General Fund, unallocated fund balance, or by transfer from other funds, as determined by the Board of Education. The probable duration of the Capital Reserve Fund is ten (10) years. 3. To elect three (3) members of the Board of Education to three (3) three-year terms, commenc- ing July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029 to succeed Jack Catanzarita, David Lee, and Robyn Adair whose terms expire on June 30, 2026. 4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pur- suant to the Education Law of the State of New York. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public moneys, may be obtained by any taxpayer in the district, beginning May 8, 2026 except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, at the Office of the District Clerk, 125 Middletown Road, Waterford, New York during the hours of 8:00 am until 4:00 pm, prevailing time and also at said District Election. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation, shall be annexed to the budget document. The election and budget vote shall be by machine or absentee and early mail ballots. The hours dur- ing which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00 p.m. to cast their ballots Personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an an- nual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he/ she is eligible to vote at this vote; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he/she is also eligible to vote at this vote. All other persons who wish to vote must register. The Board of Regis- tration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law at the at the office of the District Clerk at the Waterford Halfmoon School, on Monday, May 11, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. prevailing time to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid vote, at which time any person will be entitled to have their name placed on such Register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known or proven to the satisfaction of said Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such election for which the register is pre- pared. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk of the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m., prevailing time, on weekdays, and each day prior to the day set for the election, including Saturday, May 16, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., prevailing time, and the day set for the vote. The Register will not be available for review on Sunday, May 17, 2026. AND FUR- THER 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 the Waterford-Halfmoon Union Free School District at 125 Middletown Road, Waterford, New York, not later than April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the District and shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, and must state the full name and residence of the candidate and each signer. Information packets are available from the District Clerk. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for early mail and absentee ballots will be obtainable be- tween the hours of 8:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday, except Saturday, Sundays and holidays, from the District Clerk no earlier than April 19, 2026. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk by May 12, 2026 if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 pm, prevail- ing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. A list of all persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the office of the School District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the elec- tion, except Saturday, Sunday and holidays, during normal business hours. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written chal- lenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for such challenge. Such written challenge will be transmitted by the clerk to the inspectors of election on election day. A challenge against an early mail ballot cannot be based on the reason that the voter should have obtained or applied for an absentee ballot. The Educa- tion Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by “permanently dis- abled" voters of the District and any questions regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the Board. The Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for "military" voters of the District. Specifi- cally, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the voter by mail or in person, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot ap- plication and military ballot by mail or in person. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military voter's military ballot in accord with the military voter's preferred method of transmission not later than 25 days before the vote. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter's military ballot by mail or in person not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a 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, provided a proposition is filed with the District Clerk on or before April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. prevailing time; said proposition must be typed or printed in the English language; must be di- rected to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least twenty- five (25) qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and resi- dence of each signer. The School Board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, or any proposition which fails to in- clude a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition. Dated: 3/13/26 By Orde