Public hearing and vote on school budget and board member election.

NOTICE OF THE ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT MEETING, PUBLIC HEARING, THE VOTE ON THE SCHOOL BUDGET, PURCHASE OF ONE (1) SCHOOL BUS AND TWO (2) SUV’S, ESTABLISHMENT OF A CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, AND THE ELECTION OF TWO (2) MEMBERS TO THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE WESTMORELAND CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF WESTMORELAND, COUNTY OF ONEIDA, NEW YORK




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN: that the Board of Education of the Westmoreland Central School District will conduct a public hearing of the qualified voters for the purpose of discussing the expenditure of School District funds to meet the District’s estimated expenses for the fiscal year 2026-2027 which will be held in the Westmoreland High School Auditorium, Westmoreland, New York on May 12, 2026 at 6:30 p.m. prevailing time.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., the Annual School Budget and Board Member Vote for qualified voters residing in the Westmoreland School District, will be held in the Front Lobby of the Gymnasium in the High School building to vote upon the adoption of the Budget of the School District for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 which will appear as Proposition No. 1 – Budget on the voting machines.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that copies of the detailed statement of the Budget, prepared by the Board of Education, stating the amount of money that will be required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027, with the attachments required by law, will be available on May 5, 2026 in the district office during the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. prevailing time.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN : that the following proposition for the purchase of one (1) school bus and two (2) SUV’s as Proposition No. 2 will appear on the voting machines:

RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Westmoreland Central School District is hereby authorized to undertake the acquisition of school buses, including, without limitation, one (1) 65-passenger school bus at an estimated maximum cost of $186,345, and two (2) Suburban-type vehicles both at an estimated maximum cost of $180,000, all at an estimated maximum aggregate cost of $366,345, less trade-in value, if any, such cost, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax to be collected in annual installments, with such tax to be offset by state aid available therefor; and, in anticipation of such tax, debt obligations of the school district as may be necessary not to exceed $366,345 shall be issued, or the School District may enter into an installment purchase contract if the Board of Education determines that it is in the best interest of the School District to finance the purchase in that method.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN : that the following proposition for the establishment of a Capital Reserve Fund as Proposition No. 3 will appear on the voting machines:

RESOLVED that the Board of Education of the Westmoreland Central School District is hereby authorized to establish a Capital Reserve Fund pursuant to Section 3651 of the Education Law (to be known as the “2026 Building Capital Reserve Fund”), with the purpose of such fund being to finance construction, reconstruction, improvement and equipping of school buildings and facilities; such capital costs being of a type that would be eligible for financing under the local finance law, and costs incidental thereto, the ultimate amount of such fund to be $5,000,000, including earnings thereon, the probable term of such fund to be 10 years, but such fund shall continue in existence until liquidated in accordance with the Education Law or until the funds are exhausted, and the sources from which the funds shall be obtained for such Reserve are (i) amounts from budgetary appropriations from time to time, and (ii) unappropriated fund balance made available by the Board of Education from time to time, and (iii) New York State Aid received and made available by the Board of Education from time to time, all as permitted by law.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that candidates shall be nominated by petition to fill three (3) vacancies: two (2) vacancies are for three (3) year terms each at large effective July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, and one (1) vacancy for two (2) year term at large effective May 20, 2026 through June 30, 2028, on the Board of Education of the Westmoreland Central School District. The petitions are available in the District Clerk’s Office from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. A separate petition is required to nominate each candidate. Every petition must be (i) directed to the District Clerk of the Board of Education; (ii) be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District or 2% of the number of qualified voters who voted in the previous annual school district meeting, whichever is greater; (iii) state the residence of each signer and the name and residence of the candidate; and (iv) be filed not later than the thirtieth day preceding the election, unless that day falls on a weekend or a holiday. Petitions must be returned no later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing time on April 20, 2026, in the office of the District Clerk located in the High School building.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that the ballot will provide for the election, two (2) members to the Board of Education.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote at said annual meeting and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, and (3) a resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days immediately prior to the annual meeting and election at which he or she seeks to vote. The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and Board election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: that any referenda or propositions to appear on the ballot on the voting machine shall be submitted by petition directed to the School District Clerk and shall be signed by qualified voters, the number of which shall be determined by taking five percent (5%) of the voters of the District who voted in the previous annual election of Board members. Said petition must be typed or printed in English and must state the name and residence of each signer and submitted to the School District Clerk not later than 3:30 p.m. prevailing time, sixty (60) days preceding the Annual District Election at which the question or proposition is to be voted upon, provided that (i) any proposition may be rejected if the purpose of the proposition is not within the power of the voters; (ii) any proposition which requires the expenditure of moneys must specify the amount of the appropriation therefore; and (iii) all additional propositions are subject to review and revision, without change of intent, by the Board of Education.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: early mail and absentee ballots may be obtained at the office of the School District Clerk. Such applications for early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk 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. (A voter may complete an application for an early mail or absentee ballot in person in the District Clerk’s office by 3:30 p.m. on the day before the vote.) All ballots must be returned to the District Clerk’s office no later than May 19, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. prevailing time. A list of all persons to whom early mail, military and absentee ballots have been issued shall be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the District Clerk’s office between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and also posted at the polling place at the election. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to someone voting upon appropriate grounds for making his/her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Elections before the close of the polls.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN: military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at 315-557-2614 or erobinson@westmorelandschool.org . For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 p.m. on April 23, 2026. In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE