Budget hearing and vote for Watkins Glen Central School District scheduled for May 2026.

WATKINS GLEN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

LEGAL NOTICE



NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Budget Hearing for the inhabitants of the Watkins Glen Central School District qualified to vote at School District meetings will be held in the Watkins Glen Board of Education Room (Rm 786), 303 12th Street, Entrance HS-02, Watkins Glen, New York, 14891 commencing at 6:00 p.m. on May 6, 2026, where there shall be presented the proposed School District budget for the following school year. Board members and school administration will be present to review the budget, propositions, and school programs, and to answer questions.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Date of Vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures or for any propositions involving the expenditure of money or the authorizing of levy of taxes, as well as the election of members of the Board of Education, shall be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at the Board of Education Room of the Watkins Glen Central School District, 303 12th Street, Entrance HS-02, Watkins Glen, New York, 14891 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Voting will be by machine.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the qualified voters of the Watkins Glen Central School District shall be entitled to vote at said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, and (3) a resident within the Watkins Glen Central School District for a period of thirty (30) days next preceding the annual vote and election.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which would be required for the next school year, 2026-2027, for school purposes shall be completed seven days before the budget hearing, and may be obtained by any resident of the District at the District Office, 303 12th Street, Watkins Glen, New York, 14891, during the 14 days immediately before the annual meeting and election, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., except Saturdays, Sundays, or holidays. It will also be available at the District’s website at www.wgcsd.org.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. not later than 3:30 p.m. on April 20, 2026. Petition forms are available in the District Office, Watkins Glen High School, District Office, 303 12th Street, Watkins Glen, New York, during regular office hours of 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Candidates will run on an at large basis in accordance with Education Law Section 2034. The following vacancies are to be filled:

Election of three (3) members of the Board of Education, three terms of three (3) years:

 1. A three-year term ending June 30, 2026, currently held by Theresa Butler
 2. A three-year term ending June 30, 2026, currently held by Tracey VanSkiver
 3. A one-year term ending June 30, 2026, currently held by Astra Titus




Each petition must be addressed to the Clerk of the District, be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District, shall state the residence of each signer, and the name and address of the candidate. Vacancies upon the Board shall not be considered separate specific offices. The individuals receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the vacancies.




The following propositions shall be voted upon at the same time as the vote upon the appropriation of monies for the upcoming school year and for Board members:



Shall the Board of Education be authorized to enter into a lease for: three (3) Thomas C2 66 passenger diesel buses, the total cost not to exceed one hundred twenty thousand dollars ($120,000) per year for a maximum of five (5) years for the leasing and financing of the buses? The source of the funds shall be a tax upon the taxable property of the District to be levied and collected in annual installments in such years and in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education.




Additional Propositions

Any proposition that is required to be included for vote shall be submitted in writing by means of a petition signed by at least 25 qualified voters, stating the residence of each signer, which proposition shall be filed with the Board of Education not later than 30 days before the date of the election as set forth in this notice unless a greater number of days is required by statute. Any proposition shall be rejected by the Board of Education if the purpose of the proposition is not within the powers of the voters, or where the expenditure of monies is required for the proposition and such proposition fails to include the necessary specific appropriation.




Absentee Ballots

Applications for absentee ballots may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. Such applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven days before the vote set in this notice if the ballot is to be mailed to the absentee voter, or the day before the vote if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the absentee voter. Absentee ballots must be received in the office of the District Clerk of the District not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.




Military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application no later than 5:00 pm on April 19, 2026. In a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. The School District will transmit military ballots to military voters on April 27, 2026. Completed military ballots must be received by the School District by 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026, in order to be counted.




Early Mail Ballots

Applications for early mail ballots for the vote may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. A list of all persons to whom early mail ballots shall have been issued, will be available in the office of the District Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of the vote except Sundays, and such list will also be posted at the polling place or places for the vote.




A list of all persons to whom absentee/early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available for public inspection in the office of the District Clerk on each of the five (5) days prior to the date of the Annual Meeting and Election, weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., at the office of the District Clerk. Such list will also be posted at the polling place at the Annual Meeting and Election of members of the Board of Education.




DATED: 3/26/2026

By order of the Board of Education of the Watkins Glen Central School District

By: Renee Angle

District Clerk