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

 



NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

RIVERHEAD CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

814 HARRISON AVENUE, RIVERHEAD, NY 11901




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing of the qualified voters of the Riverhead Central School District, Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York, will be held at Riverhead Middle School, 600 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 in said District on May 6, 2026 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 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 May 19, 2026 in Riverhead High School Gymnasium , 700 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 at which time the polls will be open from 6:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. prevailing time, to vote by voting machines 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 three (3) members of the Board of Education for a three-year term each commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029.




3. To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education for the remaining balance of an unexpired term that commenced on July 1, 2024 and expires on June 30, 2027, with the successful candidate for such unexpired term (which is the candidate who receives the fourth highest number of votes) being eligible to take office immediately upon being elected and duly qualified.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Member of the Board of Education of the Riverhead Central School District shall be filed with the District Clerk of said School District at the District Clerk’s office, 814 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 not later than April 20, 2026, between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. prevailing time. All nominating petitions must be signed by 37 qualified voters (representing the greater of 25 or 2% of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election); must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate. Vacancies on the Board of Education shall not be considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at-large.

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 12, 2026 [EL1] at the Office of the District Clerk, 814 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., 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 of Suffolk County will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk of the School District, 814 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on weekdays between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., 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 May 19, 2026, at Riverhead High School, 700 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 between the hours of 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., 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 631-369-4724 for information about accessibility.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that beginning seven (7) days immediately preceding the May 6, 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, 814 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901. 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.riverhead.net/board-of-education/2026-2027-budget-documents/ , at the Riverhead Free Library during its normal hours of operation, located at 330 Court Street, Riverhead, NY 11901, at the School District Administrative Center, 814 Harrison Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901, and at each of the following school buildings in which school is maintained between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., prevailing time, except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays:

Riverhead High School, Riverhead Middle School, Pulaski Street School, Aquebogue Elementary School, Phillips Avenue Elementary School, Riley Avenue Elementary School, Roanoke Avenue Elementary School, Welcome Center, and Transportation Department.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN , that pursuant to Real Property Tax Law Section 495, the School District is required to attach to its proposed budget an exemption report. Said exemption report, which will also become part of the final budget, will show how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted, identified by statutory authority, and show: (a) the cumulative impact of each type of exemption expressed either as a dollar amount of assessed value or as a percentage of the total assessed value on the roll; (b) the cumulative amount expected to be received from recipients of each type of exemption as payments in lieu of taxes or other payments for municipal services; and (c) the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. The exemption report shall be posted on any bulletin board maintained by the District for public notices and on any website maintained by the District.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN , that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable during school business hours at the office of the District Clerk beginning April 20, 2026 . In accordance with Education Law §§ 2018-a and 2018-e, completed absentee and early mail ballot applications may not be received by the District Clerk earlier than thirty (30) days prior to the election, and 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 or to the agent named in the absentee or early mail ballot application. Absentee and early mail ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

A list of persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all persons to whom early mail voter’s ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after Thursday, May 14, 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 Saturday, May 16, 2026 by advanced appointment by contacting the District Clerk at 631-369-4724 and on May 19, 2026,