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

NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING AND VOTE FRANKLIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT Budget Hearing A budget hearing for the inhabitants of the Franklin Central School District qualified to vote at School District meetings will be held in the Cafeteria of the Franklin Central School District, commencing at 6:00 p.m. on May 7, 2026, where there shall be presented the proposed School District budget for the following school year. Date of Vote The 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 Franklin Central School Bus Garage between the hours of 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. The election and budget vote shall be by machine or early mail or absentee ballot. The polls shall be kept open as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00 p.m. to cast their ballots. Statement of Money Required for Next School Year A copy of the statement of the amount of money which would be required for the next school year for school purposes shall be completed seven days before the budget hearing and may be obtained by any resident of the District at each schoolhouse during the period of 14 days immediately before the annual meeting and election, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., except Saturday, Sunday, or holiday. Vote for Board Members 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 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. not later than April 20, 2026. A copy of such petition may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk during regular school hours. The following vacancies are to be filled: A five-year term commencing July 1, 2026 and ending June 30, 2031, to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term of Kelly Kingsbury, whose term expires June 30, 2026. A two-year term commencing as soon as the candidate may take the Oath of Office and ending June 30, 2028, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Joan Cronauer, who resigned effective March 1, 2026. 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 (no PO Boxes) of each signer, the name and address of the candidate, and shall describe the specific vacancy on the Board of Education for which the candidate is nominated, which description shall include at least the length of term of office, and the name of the last incumbent. No person shall be nominated for more than one specific office. The following propositions shall be voted upon at the same time as the appropriation of monies and for Board member: School Bus Proposition: Shall the Board of Education of the Franklin Central School District, Franklin, New York, hereby be authorized to (a) purchase school buses, including incidental equipment and expenses in connection therewith, at an aggregate maximum estimated cost of $180,000; (b) expend such $180,000, or so much thereof as may be necessary, (c)levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law as may be determined by the Board of Education taking into account state aid received; and, (d) in anticipation of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $180,000, and to levy a tax to pay the interest on such obligations of said School District when due? Franklin Free Library Proposition: Shall the annual appropriation of $43,528, separate and apart from the Franklin Central School District annual school district budget, to be approved to support and maintain the Franklin Free Library, which sum shall be raised annually by a tax upon the taxable property of the school district, and which appropriate shall be the annual appropriation for the library until changed by further vote of the electors of the school district, and such tax shall be levied and collected yearly as are other general taxes? 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. Voter Requirements The School District may require all persons offering to vote at the Annual School District Meeting to provide one form of proof of residency pursuant to Education Law §2018-c. Such forms may include: •A driver's license •A non-driver identification card •A utility bill • A voter registration card Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address. Qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote in said annual vote and election. 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 School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election.The School 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 section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver's license, a non-driver identification card, a redacted tax return or any identification containing the person's physical address. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address Absentee and Early Mail Ballots Applications for absentee and early mail ballots may be applied for at the District Office at P.O. Box 888, Franklin, New York 13775. 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 and early mail ballots must be received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote. A list of all persons to whom absentee and 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 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. The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by “permanently disabled” voters of the District and any questions regarding these rights should be directed to the Clerk of the Board. 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 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. The School District will transmit military ballots to military voters on April 24, 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. DATED: MARCH 2026By order of the Board of Education of the Franklin Central School District Cynthia Ackerley District Clerk