Public hearing on the Herkimer Central School District budget for 2026-2027.

Public Hearing LEGAL NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET AND NOTICE OF A MEETING OF VOTERS OF HERKIMER CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT The Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District hereby gives notice that a public hearing on the budget of said School District will be held at the Herkimer Middle-High School Media Center, 801 W German St., Herkimer, New York, in said School District, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m., at which time the proposed budget for said School District for 2026-2027 will be presented for review and discussion in anticipation of the subsequent vote thereon by the qualified voters of said School District. The budget will be available for review at the District Office, 801 W German St, Herkimer, New York, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., weekdays during the fourteen (14) days preceding the date of the election. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual meeting of the qualified voters of said School District will be held at the Herkimer Middle-High School Media Center, 801 W German Street, Herkimer, New York, in said School District, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., at which time the polls will be opened to vote by machine ballot on the following items: 1. To vote upon the adoption of a budget for the Herkimer Central School District for the ensuing fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property on the District; 2. To elect three (3) board members of the Board of Education for a three (3) year term commencing on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2029 to succeed Diann Fischer, Joseph Lamanna and Scott Petucci whose term expires on June 30, 2026; 3. To vote of the following proposition: SHALL the Board of Education of the Herkimer Central School District be authorized to (1) create a Capital Reserve Fund, to be known as Capital Reserve Fund #4, for the purpose of construction of, and general improvements, reconstruction, renovations or additions to, the District's buildings and grounds, including site work and the acquisition of original furnishings, equipment, machinery or apparatus required for the purpose for which such buildings or grounds are to be used; (2) fund said reserve to the ultimate amount of $5,000,000; (3) annually deposit into the Capital Reserve Fund such portion of the General Fund, unallocated fund balance, State Aid related to expenditures from the Reserve Fund, interest income related to investment of monies in the fund, or other reserve funds as determined by the Board of Education? The probable duration of the Capital Reserve Fund is ten (10) years. 4. Shall an annual appropriation of $378,592, separate and apart from the Herkimer Central School District annual school budget, be approved to support and maintain the Frank J. Basloe Library, which shall be the annual appropriation for the library until changed by further vote of the electors for the School District, and such tax shall be levied and collected yearly as are other general taxes?. 5. To elect one (1) member of the Frank J. Basloe Library Board of Trustees for a five (5) year term commencing on July 1, 2026, and expiring on June 30, 2031, to succeed Ron Ste-Marie whose term expires on June 30, 2026. 6. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York. NOTICE IS FURTHER HEREBY GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident in said School District at each schoolhouse in said School District in which school is maintained, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., on each day other than a Saturday, Sunday or holiday during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the date of the election. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation, shall be annexed to the budget document. The election and budget vote shall be by machine ballot or early mail or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 12:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. prevailing time or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 8:00 p.m. to cast their ballots. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that petitions nominating candidates for office of the Board of Education must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the Office of the District Clerk on or before April 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. prevailing time. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of said School District, shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of said School District or two-percent (2%) of the voters in the previous annual election of the District, whichever is greater, shall state the residence of each signer and shall state the name and residence of the candidate. A copy of such petition may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk during regular school days and hours. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBYGIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with §2035 and 2008 of the Education Law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the District Clerk of the Board of Education at the Office of the District Clerk on or before April 20, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. prevailing time; must be typed or printed in English, must be directed to the Clerk of the School District and must be signed by twenty-five (25) qualified voters or five percent (5%) of the number of qualified voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever shall be greater; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters any proposition for the purpose of which is not within the powers of the voters to determine, or any proposition which fails to include a specific appropriation where the expenditure of monies is required by the proposition. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBY GIVEN that applications for early mail and absentee ballots will be obtainable and are returnable no earlier than April 19, 2026, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. Completed applications for early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days preceding the day of the vote (May 12, 2026) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter; or on or before the day before the vote (May 18, 2026) if the ballot is to be personally delivered to the voter. Early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk on or before May 19, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. In addition, a list of all persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of said District Clerk between 8:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election, beginning May 14, 2026, except Saturday, Sunday or holiday, and such list will also be posted at the said polling place on the day of the vote. Any qualified voter may challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such a list, by making his/her challenge and reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls. A challenge against an early mail ballot cannot be based on the reason that the voter should have obtained or applied for an absentee ballot. 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. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBYGIVEN that the Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for "military" voters of the District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for "military ballots" in school district votes. Whereas early mail and absentee ballot applications and early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail or in person, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military voter's military ballot in accordance with the military voter's preferred method of transmission not later than 25 days before the vote, April 24, 2026. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter's military ballot by mail or in person not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote. NOTICE IS ALSO HEREBYGIVEN that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote in said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is