Public hearing for Bethlehem Central School District budget and board election.

LEGAL NOTICE



LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION


NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Bethlehem Central School District shall be held at the Bethlehem Central High School located at 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, Albany County, New York, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., Prevailing Time. The budget will be available for review commencing on April 24, 2026 at the Bethlehem Central High School, Business Office, 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York, and the offices of each Elementary School, the Middle School and the High School of the District.

AND NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the election of candidates to the Bethlehem Central School Board of Education and the budget vote will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the upper gymnasium of the Bethlehem Central High School, 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, Albany County, New York, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine on the following items:


PROPOSITION #1

To adopt the annual budget of the Bethlehem Central School District for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion therefore to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.


PROPOSITION #2

To elect three (3) members of the Board of Education as follows: Three (3) at-large seats to a three (3) year term commencing on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, for the seats held by Ms. Holly Dellenbaugh, Dr. Ewan McNay and Ms. Meredith Moriarty, whose terms expire on June 30, 2026.


PROPOSITION #3

Resolved, that the Board of Trustees of the Bethlehem Public Library be authorized to expend for the operation of such library for the fiscal year July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, the sum of: $5,501,811 and that the Board of Education of Bethlehem Central School District of the Towns of Bethlehem and New Scotland, County of Albany, New York, be authorized to levy the necessary tax therefor.


PROPOSITION #4

To elect one (1) trustees to the Board of Trustees of the Bethlehem Public Library, as follows: one (1) at large seat to a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2031, for the seat held by Ms. Michelle Walsh, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.


PROPOSITION #5

RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Bethlehem Central School District is hereby authorized to (1) acquire up to 9 large (70 passenger diesel) school buses at a total cost not to exceed $1,633,239 which is estimated to be the maximum cost thereof, (2) expend such sums for such purpose, (3) levy the tax necessary therefor, to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education, taking into account federal and state aid received, and (4) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $1,633,239 or enter into a lease-purchase agreement at a principal amount not to exceed $1,633,239 to acquire such buses.




To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York.

The election and budget vote shall be by voting machine or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. prevailing time or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 9:00 p.m. to cast their ballots.


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 the 2026-2027 school year, exclusive of public monies, and Basic STAR exemption impact report may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting except Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, at the Bethlehem Central High School, Business Office, 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York, and the offices of each Elementary School, the Middle School, the High School of the District, the School District Website and the Bethlehem Public Library between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time and also at said District Election.


AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education and for the office of Trustee of the Bethlehem Public Library shall be filed with the District Clerk at the District Clerk’s office at the Bethlehem Central High School, Superintendent’s Office, 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York, not later than April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Each petition must be directed to the District Clerk, must be signed by at least Seventy (70) qualified voters of the District and must state the name and residence of the candidate. A copy of such petitions may be obtained at the Office of District Clerk in the Bethlehem Central School District during regular school hours.


AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. Completed applications for absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the vote 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. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026.


AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk beginning April 24, 2026; completed applications 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. Early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on May 19, 2026. A list of persons to whom early mail ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk through May 18, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 19, 2026.


AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Bethlehem Central School District. A military voter registration application may be requested from the District Clerk at 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York and must be returned to the Office of the District Clerk at 700 Delaware Avenue, Delmar, New York not later than 5:00 pm on April 24, 2026. A military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration application by mail, facsimile transmission, or email.


AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. If a military voter does not designate a preference, the board of education shall transmit the military ballot application or military ballot by mail. If a military voter designates a preference for facsimile transmission or electronic mail but does not provide the necessary facsimile number or e-mail address, the Board of Education shall transmit the voter registration application, military ballot application or military ballot by mail and request the omitted information. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person, regardless of how the absentee application or ballot was received. The District Clerk shall transmit the military voter’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission, or if not preference by mail, not later than April 24, 2026. The District Clerk must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.


A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk from 8:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. prevailing time on each of the five days prior to the day of the election, except Saturday, May 16 and Sunday, May 17, 2026, and on the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such list, by making his/her challenge and reasons therefore known to the Chief Election Inspector before the close of th