Public hearing for the Bridgehampton School District budget vote on May 6, 2026.

 

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGBUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION 

OF THE BRIDGEHAMPTON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT, SUFFOLK, NEW YORK

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing of the qualified voters of the Bridgehampton Union Free School District, Town of Southampton, Suffolk County, New York, will be held in the Bridgehampton School, in said district on May 6, 2026, at 7:00PM, prevailing time, for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law, including the following items:

 1. To present to the voters a detailed statement of the amount of money which will be required for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

2. To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by paper ballot at the Budget Vote and Election to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026.

3. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.

AND FURTHER 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 2026-2027, exclusive of public moneys, may be obtained by any resident of the District beginning April 22, 2026, between the hours of 9:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays at the Office of the District Clerk, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY, at the Hampton Library, 2478 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY and on the District’s internet website.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that said Budget Vote and Election will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in the Bridgehampton School, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY, between the hours of 2:00PM and 8:00PM, prevailing time, at which time 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.

2. To elect (2) members of the Board of Education for a 3-year term commencing July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029, to fill the positions held by Kathleen G. McCleland and Markanthony C. Verzosa, whose terms expires on June 30, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law, 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 the total assessed value of the final assessment roll used in the budgetary process is exempt from taxation, list every type of exemption granted by the statutory authority, and show the cumulative impact of each type of exemption, the cumulative amount expected to be received as payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and the cumulative impact of all exemptions granted. In addition, said 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 petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of said School District at her office in 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton UFSD, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY, not later than April 20, 2026, between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; vacancies on the Board of Education are not considered separate, specific offices; candidates run at large. Nominating petitions shall not describe any specific vacancy upon the Board for which the candidate is nominated.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at an annual or special district meeting within the last four (4) calendar years, he or she is eligible to vote at this election. If a voter is registered and eligible to vote under Article 5 of the Election Law, he or she is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. The Board of Registration will meet for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law on May 12, 2026, between the hours of 4:00PM and 8:00PM, prevailing time, at the Bridgehampton School, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY; to add any additional names to the Register to be used at the aforesaid election, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said 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 such election for which the Register is prepared. The Register so prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on Thursday, May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, on each weekday prior to the day set for the election, and on Saturday, May 16, 2026 between 10:00AM and 12:00PM, and at the polling place on the day of the vote..

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York, the Board of Registration will meet on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 2:00PM and 8:00PM, prevailing time, at the Bridgehampton School, 2685 Montauk Highway, Bridgehampton, NY, to prepare the Register of the School District to be used at the Budget Vote and Election to be held in 2026, and any special district meeting that may be held after the preparation of said Register, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such Register provided that at such meeting of said 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 election for which said Register is prepared, or any special district meeting held after May 19, 2026.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the school district. An application for registration as a military voter can be requested beginning April 1, 2026 from the District Clerk, Monday-Friday, from 9:00AM until 4:00PM; and it should be returned to the Clerk no later than 5:00PM on the day before the Board of Registration will meet to prepare the register on May 11, 2026. In the request for an application for registration, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for registration by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the district may submit an application for a military ballot beginning April 1, 2026 or before April 23, 2026 from the District Clerk, Monday through Friday, from 9:00AM until 4:00PM; and it should be returned to the Clerk no later than by 5:00PM on Thursday, April 23, 2026. In the request for an application for a military ballot, the military voter is permitted to designate his/her preference for receiving the application for a military ballot, and the military ballot, by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail. All qualified military voters’ ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person. Ballots for military voters shall be distributed to qualified military voters no later than April 24, 2026. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of the polls, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, and must show a cancellation mark of the United States postal service or a foreign country’s postal service, or must show a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 pm on the day of the election and be signed and dated by the military voter and one witness, with a date ascertained to be not later than the day before the election.

A list of persons to whom military ballots are 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 9:00AM and 4:00PM, prevailing time, on each weekday prior to the day set for the annual election, except Sunday, and on Saturday, May 16, 2026 between 10:00AM and 12:00PM, and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter then present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropr