Annual meeting and budget vote for Fort Ann Central School District scheduled for May 2026.

Fort Ann Central School 

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

FORT ANN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF FORT ANN, COUNTY OF WASHINGTON, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Fort Ann Central School District, Washington County, Fort Ann, New York will be held in the Auditorium in said District, One Catherine Street, Fort Ann, New York, on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:00 pm prevailing time, for the presentation of the budget. The budget will be available for review on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at the Fort Ann Central School.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Meeting of the qualified voters of the Fort Ann Central School District of the Town of Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, will be held in the gymnasium, One Catherine Street, Fort Ann, New York, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 pm and 8:00 pm, prevailing time, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by ballot 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. To elect (2) two members to the Board of Education; two (2) 3-year terms commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2029. The incumbent Board members whose terms are expiring are Timothy Webb II and Paul Greene.

3. Shall the Board Of Education of the Fort Ann Central School District is hereby authorized to purchase two 35 passenger school buses and one 7 passenger suburban at a total cost not to exceed $315,000 and that the sum of $315,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary shall be raised by the levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law, and, in anticipation of such tax, obligations of said School District shall be issued.

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

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of amounts of money which will be required to fund the School District’s budget for 2026-2027 exclusive of public moneys, may be obtained by any resident of the District during regular business hours beginning Wednesday, May 6, 2026 and continuing to May 19, 2026, at the School District Office, except Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, between the hours of 8:00am and 3:00pm, prevailing time and also at said District Election.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the election and budget vote shall be by paper or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 12:00pm to 8:00pm, prevailing time, or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00pm to cast their ballots.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions for nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education may be obtained at the District Office between the hours of 8:00am and 3:00pm, Monday through Friday, beginning on March 19, 2026. Such petitions shall be directed to the Clerk of the District, shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District and shall state the name and residence of the candidate. Each petition shall be filed with the District Clerk of the District no later than 5:00pm on April 20, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote in said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen (18) years of age or older, and (3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election. The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the budget vote and election to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law section 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.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that absentee ballots and early mail-in may be applied for at the District Office, One Catherine Street, Fort Ann, New York 12827. Such applications must be received by the District Office at least seven days before the day of the vote, May 11, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the absentee voter or the day before the vote, May 18, 2026, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the absentee voter. Absentee ballots must be received in the District Office not later than 5:00pm on the date of the vote.

The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by “permanently disabled” voters of the District and any questions regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the board.

A list of all persons to whom absentee voter ballots have been issued shall be available for public inspection in the office of the Clerk of the District, during regular office hours between 8:00am and 3:00pm, on each of the (5) five days prior to the day of the vote, except weekends, and on May 19, 2026, the day of the election. Any qualified voter may upon examination of such list, file written challenge of qualifications of a voter or any person, whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for the challenge.

The 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. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application 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 twenty-five (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 any other proposition not requiring official notice in the call of the Annual Meeting may be voted upon at said election, subject to the provisions of Section 2035 of the Education Law, provided a proposition is filed with the District Clerk on or before April 20, 2026 at 3:00 pm, prevailing time; said proposition 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 twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and residence 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 include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition.

By Order of the Board of Education of the Fort Ann Central School District

By: Rebecca Barrows, District Clerk

Pub. April 2, April 9, April 23, and May 7, 2026

PUB: APRIL 2, 9, 23, MAY 7, 2026 

COL-NY-4111