Public hearing and budget vote for Putnam Central School District scheduled for May 2026.

Notice of Budget Hearing and Notice of Annual Meeting, Budget Vote and Election

PUTNAM CENTRAL SCHOOL

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Putnam Central School District, Washington County, New York will be held in the Putnam School building on County Route 2 in the Town of Putnam, New York on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at 6:30 P.M. (D.S.T.) for the presentation of the budget.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuring year, for school purposes (2026-2027), may be obtained by any resident of the District from the office between the hours of 8:00 a.m. (D.S.T.) and 2:00 p.m. (D.S.T.), on the date of the Annual Meeting, Budget Vote and Election, as well as on the District’s website, beginning May 5, 2026, except Saturday; Sunday or Holidays.




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, exclusive of public monies, and an exemption summary report as required by section 495 of Real Property Tax Law, may be obtained by any resident of the district during the business hours beginning Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at the Putnam Central School.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the annual meeting of the qualified voters of the Putnam Central School District, Washington County, New York, will be held in the gymnasium at the Putnam Central School District in the Town of Putnam, New York on May 19, 2026 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. (D.S.T.) and 8:00 p.m. (D.S.T.) during which hours the polls will be opened to vote by paper 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.




 1. To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education as follows:




One (1) member, for a 5-year term commencing on July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2031, to succeed Carol Koehler, whose term expires on June 30, 2026.




One (1) member, to fill the remainder of the term left vacant by the resignation of Gerald

Gendron, commencing on May 20, 2026 or as soon thereafter as the member may be sworn in and ending on June 30, 2027.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that the petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of the District, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. (D.S.T.) and 2:00 p.m. (D.S.T.), no later than 5:00 p.m. (D.S.T.) on April 20, 2026. A nominating petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, or two percent of the voters who voted in the 2025 election of the members of the Board of Education, whichever is greater, such number to be determined by the number of persons recorded on the poll list as having voted at such election; must state the residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate therein nominated.




NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots or early mail in ballots for the election of Board member, the adoption of the annual budget may be obtainable Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. That list of all persons to whom absentee ballots and early mail in ballots shall have been issued will be available in the said office of the Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election except Saturday, Sunday and holidays. Completed applications for absentee ballots or early mail in 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 election, if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter. Absentee ballots or early mail in ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. (D.S.T.) on May 19, 2026. The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the School district. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballots must be receive by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive their absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. The military voter must, however, return their original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person. The District Clerk of the Schools shall transmit the military voter’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such list, by making his challenge and reason therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.




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 a 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 FUTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Sections 2035 and 2008 of the Education Law, any referenda or proposition to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said vote and election, must be filed with the Board of Education at the Putnam Central School on or before April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. (D.S.T.) prevailing time; must be typed or printed in English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) of the qualified voters of the District; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain or place before the voters any proposition if its purpose is beyond the power of the voters or is illegal, or any proposition requiring the expenditure of monies which fails to include specific appropriations for all such expenditures required by the proposition.




Kim M. Brown

School District Clerk







PUB: APRIL 4, 18, MAY 2, 16, 2026 

COL-NY-4085