Public hearing for Elmira Heights Central School District budget and board member elections.

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, VOTE AND ELECTION ELMIRA HEIGHTS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWNS OF HORSEHEADS, BIG FLATS, AND ELMIRA, COUNTY OF CHEMUNG, NEW YORK. Budget Hearing A public hearing of the qualified voters of the Elmira Heights Central School District, Towns of Horseheads, Big Flats and Elmira, Chemung County, New York, will be held in the Thomas A. Edison High School Community Room (livestream available) on Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at 7:00 p.m., for the presentation of the 2026-2027 proposed School District budget. Date of Vote The vote upon the appropriation of 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, between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., in the Thomas A. Edison High School, located at 2083 College Ave, Elmira Heights, New York, at which time the polls will be open to vote by paper ballot. Statement of Money Required for Next School Year 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 monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during business hours on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the 14 days preceding the date of the annual meeting and election, and on the date of the election, at the District Office, 2083 College Avenue, Elmira Heights, New York, and at each of the following school houses; Cohen Elementary School and Cohen Middle School, 100 Robinwood Avenue, Elmira Heights, New York and Thomas A. Edison High School, 2083 College Avenue, Elmira Heights, New York. This statement may also be found on the District website at www.heightsschools.com. Vote for Board Members Petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education shall be filed with the Clerk of the District at Thomas A. Edison High School District Office, not later than Monday, April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The following vacancies are to be filled: Vacant Seat (term expires 6/30/29) One (1) Seat - serves immediately + three (3) years Vacant Seat (term expires 6/30/27) One (1) Seat – unexpired term, serves immediately + one (1) year 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. Specific Propositions The following propositions shall be voted upon at the same time as the vote upon the appropriation of monies for the coming school year and for Board members: Proposition Number 1 (Budget) Shall the following proposition be adopted, to wit: BE IT RESOLVED, that the proposed budget of $31,889,027 of the Elmira Heights Central School District for 2026-27 be approved in accordance with Section 2022 of the Education Law and that the balance of said budget after applying available public moneys thereto be raised by a tax upon the taxable property of said District. Adoption of this budget requires a tax levy increase of 2.0% which does not exceed the statutory limit of 2.69% for this school fiscal year and therefore does not exceed the state tax cap and must be approved by a simple majority, more than fifty percent of the qualified voters present and voting. Proposition Number 2 (Purchase of School Buses) Shall the following resolution be adopted to wit: Resolved that the Board of Education of the Elmira Heights Central School District is hereby authorized to undertake the acquisition of school buses, including, without limitation, one (1) diesel Type C 65-passenger school bus, at an estimated maximum cost of $193,275 and one (1) diesel Type C 65-passenger school bus, at an estimated maximum cost of $187,875, all at an estimated aggregate cost of $381,150, less trade-in value, if any, and that such cost, or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by the levy of a tax to be collected in annual installments, with such tax to be offset by state aid available therefor; and, in anticipation of such tax, debt obligations of the school district as may be necessary not to exceed $381,150 shall be issued, or the School District may enter into an installment purchase contract if the Board of Education determines that it is in the best interest of the School District to finance the purchase in that method Proposition Number 3 (Technology Reserve) Shall the following resolution be approved by the voters: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Elmira Heights Central School District is hereby authorized to purchase information technology equipment to include 170 HP Chromebooks with three year device warranty, google education upgrade, and case for aggregate sum not to exceed of One Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Dollars ($125,000), and to appropriate and expend from the district’s existing Technology Capital Reserve Fund, established by the voters on May 20, 2025, for such cost, and be it further RESOLVED, that the Board of Education shall be authorized to enter into one or more purchase contracts in the 2025-2026 school year. Since the funds are to be expended hereunder are from the Technology Capital Reserve Fund, approval of this Proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the School District. Proposition Number 4 (Transportation Reserve) Shall the following resolution be approved by the voters: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Elmira Heights Central School District is hereby authorized to purchase one DOT approved student transportation vehicle for the purpose of student transportation for aggregate sum not to exceed Seventy Five Thousand Dollars ($75,000), and to appropriate and expend from the district’s existing Transportation Capital Reserve Fund, established by the voters on May 20, 2025, for such cost. Since the funds are to be expended hereunder are from the Transportation Capital Reserve Fund, approval of this Proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the School District. Proposition Number 5 (Maintenance Equipment Reserve) Shall the following resolution be approved by the voters: BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Elmira Heights Central School District is hereby authorized to purchase two operations and maintenance vehicles equipped for snow removal for the purpose of supporting building operations and maintenance for aggregate sum not to exceed of One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000), and to appropriate and expend from the district’s existing Maintenance Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, established by the voters on May 20, 2025, for such cost. Since the funds are to be expended hereunder are from the Maintenance Equipment Capital Reserve Fund, approval of this Proposition will not require a tax levy upon the real property of the School District. Early Mail and Absentee Ballots Applications for early mail and absentee ballots may be applied for at the District Office. 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 voter, or the day before the vote if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail and 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 at EFURSTOSS@heightsschools.com or 607-734-7114 ext 2544. 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 23, 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. A list of all persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots 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 4:00 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: March 25, 2026 By order of the Board of Education of the Elmira Heights Central School District By: Erin Furstoss District Clerk April 22, May 3, 12, 2026