LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC BUDGET HEARING, ANNUAL DISTRICT VOTE FOR THE
AMHERST CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
OF AMHERST, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual District Vote and Election (the "Annual Vote") of the Amherst Central School District, Erie County, New York (the "District") will be held at the Amherst Central High School South Gymnasium, 4301 Main Street, in Amherst, New York, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM, for the purpose(s) of: (i) voting on the budget for the fiscal year; (ii) electing a total of three (3) members of the District's board of Education (the "Board") two (2) of which shall serve for three-year terms to commence on July 1, 2026 as a result of the expiration of the terms of current board members on June 30, 2026 and one (1) of which shall serve a term commencing upon election and expiring in June 2027 to fill an opening resulting from a previous member vacating their seat; (iii) voting on modifications to the costs associated with the Capital Improvements Project, 2022; and (v) transacting such other business as may be authorized by law.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that a public hearing for the qualified voters of the District will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 PM in the District Office Conference Room, 55 Kings Highway, in Amherst, New York, for presentation of the proposed 2026-2027 District budget.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that voting machines will be used to record the vote on the budget, on all propositions, and on the election of members of the Board of Education. The Board has adopted rules for the Use of Voting machines and printed copies for general distribution are available at the Office of the District Clerk located at 55 Kings Highway, Amherst, New York.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the qualified voters of the District shall be entitled to vote at the Annual Vote. 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 Amherst Central School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the Annual Vote. The 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 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 District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the Board will have prepared a detailed statement in writing of the amount of money that will be required during the District's 2026-2027 fiscal year for school purposes, specifying the several purposes and the amount for each. Copies of such statement will be available to any taxpayer of the District on or after May 5, 2026, (except on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays). District residents may obtain this information at the office of the District Clerk at 55 Kings Highway, Amherst, New York between the hours of 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, or at any schoolhouse or public library in the District. Additionally, copies of such statement shall be available for review at the polling place on the day of the Annual Vote.
TAKE FURTHER NOTICE that the following Propositions shall be submitted to the qualified voters at the Annual Vote:
PROPOSITION 1
VOTE ON PROPOSED 2026-2027 BUDGET, AS PRESENTED
RESOLVED, that the proposed budget for the District for the fiscal year commencing July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2029, as presented by the Board of Education of the District, is hereby approved and adopted, and the required funds therefor are hereby appropriated and the necessary real property taxes required shall be raised by a tax on the taxable property in said District to be levied and collected as required by law.
PROPOSITION 2
VOTE ON MODIFICATION OF THE MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST (AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS) FOR THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, 2022 (NO TAX IMPACT)
Shall the following resolutions be adopted, to-wit:
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education (the "Board") of the Amherst Central School District, Erie County, New York (the "District"), is hereby authorized to modify the District's previously-approved Capital Improvements Project, 2022 involving the partial reconstruction and renovation of, and the construction of improvements, upgrades and one or more additions to various District buildings and facilities and the sites thereof (collectively, the "Project"); and be it further
RESOLVED, that such modification shall involve an increase in the authorized estimated maximum cost of the Project, from $68,704,432 to $81,204,432 (in order to allow for the Project to be partially completed as planned, in light of bids that have already exceeded and are expected to continue to exceed, the original maximum cost figure for the Project that was approved by the District's voters in December of 2022); and be it further
RESOLVED, that such modification shall also involve the expenditure or application toward the Project of an additional $1,754,441, during the current fiscal year of the District, from the District's Capital Improvement Reserve Fund, 2021, and $3,245,559 of available District funds (thereby increasing the total amount of available District reserves and other available funds to be utilized for the Project to a total of $5,000,000, so that there will continue to be no anticipated increase in the District's local tax levy in order to accomplish the Project); and be it further
RESOLVED, that no additional tax is necessary to finance the balance of the $12,500,000 upward adjustment in the cost of the Project, with only the originally approved tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by the Board; and be it further
RESOLVED, that in anticipation of the originally approved obligations of the District, including, without limitation, serial bonds, statutory installment bonds, bond anticipation notes and/or lease/ purchase obligations ("Obligations"), are hereby authorized to be issued in the aggregate principal amount of not to exceed $81,204,432, including $7,500,000 in additional Obligations, and a tax is hereby voted to pay the interest on such obligations as the same shall become due and payable; and be it further
RESOLVED, that New York State Building Aid funds expected to be received by the District are anticipated to offset a substantial part of such additional cost of the Project, and such funds shall, to the extent received, be applied to offset and reduce the amount of taxes herein authorized to be levied.
PROPOSITION 3
VOTE ON FURTHER MODIFICATION OF THE MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST (AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS) FOR THE
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, 2022 (TAX IMPACT)
If (and only if) Proposition 2 presented herewith shall be approved by the voters of the District, shall the following proposition also be adopted (please note that this Proposition 3, even if approved by the voters of the District, will have no effect, and the work described herein will not be undertaken, unless Proposition 2 is also approved):
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education (the "Board") of the Amherst Central School District, Erie County, New York (the "District"), is hereby authorized to further modify the District's previously- approved Capital Improvements Project, 2022 involving the partial reconstruction and renovation of, and the construction of improvements, upgrades and one or more additions to various District buildings and facilities and the sites thereof (collectively, the "Project"); and be it further RESOLVED, that such further modification shall involve an increase in the authorized estimated maximum cost of the Project, from $81,204,432 to $98,204,432 (in order to allow for the Project to be fully completed as planned, in light of bids that have already exceeded and are expected to continue to exceed, the original maximum cost figure for the Project that was approved by the District's voters in December of 2022); and be it further
RESOLVED, that New York State Building Aid funds expected to be received by the District are anticipated to offset a substantial part of such additional cost of the Project, and such funds shall, to the extent received, be applied to offset and reduce the amount of faxes herein authorized to be levied.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that such Proposition 2 and Proposition 3 shall appear on the ballots to be used for voting on such Propositions in substantially the following abbreviated forms:
PROPOSITION 2
VOTE ON MODIFICATION OF THE MAXIMUM ESTIMATED COST (AND FINANCING ARRANGEMENTS) FOR THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT, 2022 (NO TAX IMPACT)
YES
Shall the following resolution be adopted, to-wit:
NO
BE IT RESOLVED (a) that the Board of Education (the "Board") of the Amherst Central School District, Erie County, New