Public hearing and budget vote for Garden City Union Free School District scheduled.

NASSAU COUNTY

LEGAL NOTICE





NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

GARDEN CITY UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, Garden City, New York




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Garden City Union Free School District, Garden City, Nassau County, New York, will be held at the library of Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Avenue , Garden City, New York, in said District on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 7:30 PM, prevailing time, for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the New York State Education Law, including the following items.

 1. Presentation of the budget document.
 2. To discuss all of the items herein set forth, to be voted upon by voting machine, at the election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, as hereinafter set forth.
 3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said vote and election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 , in the library of Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Avenue, Garden City, New York, at which time the polls will be open from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM, prevailing time, to vote by voting machines upon the following items:

1. Appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures for the school fiscal year 2026-2027 or propositions involving the expenditures of money or authorizing the levy of taxes, or for such other propositions as may have been duly presented.

2. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring June 30, 2029, as a result of the vacancy created by the expiration of the term of Elizabeth Gaffney.

3. Authorization to expend the sum of $13,685,000.00 from: (1) uncommitted capital funds and capital reserve funds for capital projects that were previously completed, in the amount of $660,896.71; (2) capital funds and capital reserve funds previously allocated during the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years to construct a greenhouse and courtyard at the Garden City High School that was not commenced or completed, in the amount of $3,300,000.00; and (3) the Garden City Union Free School District Capital Reserve Fund, which was established on May 17, 2022, in the amount of $9,724,103.29, to undertake and perform the following capital improvements/projects: Middle School: Roof replacement, Window replacement; Hemlock School: Roof replacement; Administration Building: Roof replacement, together with such incidental and ancillary work, including related projects, site work and abatement, if necessary, and such architect, construction management and legal costs to compete such projects provided the details and costs of the components of the capital improvements/projects may be reallocated among such components/projects within the total authorized expenditure as the Board of Education shall determine to be in the best interest of the District.

4. Authorization to establish a Capital Reserve Fund pursuant to Section 3651 of the New York Education Law to be known as the 2026 Garden City Union Free School District Capital Reserve Fund for a probable term of ten (10) years and an ultimate amount of Eleven Million Dollars ($11,000,000.00) , whose purpose shall be to fund, in whole or in part, capital additions or improvements to the facilities of the District, including, but not limited to, construction, reconstruction and renovation of facilities, roofing, asbestos abatement and insulation, masonry work, electrical work, generator, lighting, security enhancements, air conditioning, HVAC, site-work and related work, with such funds to be obtained from transfers of end of year budget surplus funds; and/or budgetary appropriations; amounts from certain other reserve funds as authorized by law; other funds that may be legally appropriated; and the interest accrued on such funds over the term of the capital reserve fund.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the Garden City Union Free School District shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or Holiday, but by no later than April 20, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM, prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by at least 35 qualified voters of the District (representing the greater of 25 or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever is greater); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Each petition shall be directed to the District Clerk and shall describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated. Each vacancy upon the Board of Education to be filled shall be considered a separate specific vacancy.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 or pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and has voted at any annual or special district meeting within the past four (4) calendar years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the New York State Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Voters may register on any school day prior to May 14, 2026 at the Office of the District Clerk, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York, between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, prevailing time, to add any additional names to the registers to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his name placed on such registers provided that at the meeting of the Board of Registration he or she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such public hearing or election for which such registers are prepared, and that the registers so prepared pursuant to New York Education Law §2014 and the registration list prepared by the Board of Elections Nassau County will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk of the School District, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, prevailing time, on and after May 14, 2026, and Saturday by pre-arranged appointment, except Sunday .

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to New York Education Law §2014, the Board of Registration shall meet on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in the gymnasium of the Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Avenue, Garden City, New York, between the hours of 6:00 AM and 9:00 PM , prevailing time, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the annual meeting and election that is to be held in 2027, and any special meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have her or his 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 such Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the school meeting or election for which such Register is prepared.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that qualified voters with disabilities who seek information about access to polling places may, in advance of the day of the vote, contact the District Clerk at 516-478-1040 for information about accessibility.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 12, 2026 public budget hearing, any resident in the District may request to review a copy of the proposed budget by appearing at the Office of the District Clerk, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York . Additionally, a statement of the estimated expenses for the ensuing year may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said election on the school district website: https://www.gardencity.k12.ny.us , at the Garden City Public Library during its normal hours of operation, located at 60 7th St, Garden City, New York, at the School District Administration Building, 56 Cathedral Avenue, Garden City, New York , and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:

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Garden City High School, 170 Rockaway Avenue, Garden City, New York

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Garden City Middle School, 98 Cherry Valley Avenue, Garden City, New York

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Stewart School, 501 Stewart Avenue, Garden City, New York

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