Public hearing for the 2026-2027 budget and board member election.

WARREN COUNTY

LEGAL NOTICE



NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION

MINERVA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

TOWN OF MINERVA

COUNTY OF ESSEX, NEW YORK




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Public Hearing on the proposed 2026-2027 Budget for the Minerva Central School District, Essex County, Olmstedville, New York shall be held in the school atrium of the District on May 12, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. prevailing time.




NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that said Annual meeting of qualified voters of the Minerva Central School District will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. prevailing time, in the school atrium at which time the polls will be opened to vote by paper ballot upon the following items:




1. 2026-2027 BUDGET




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. ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER SEATS




To elect one (1) member of the Board of Education:

· One (1), five (5) year term commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring June 30, 2031 to fill the vacancy left by the expiration of the term of Jessica West




3. EXPENDING CAPITAL RESERVE FUNDS: To vote on the following proposition




To authorize the expenditure of the balance of all monies in the Capital Reserve Fund – Future projects, (currently $22,095), plus interest, for the purpose of funding a capital outlay project for the replacement of bleachers in the Minerva Central School gymnasium, thereby terminating said fund




4. To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York




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 school year, exclusive of public monies may be obtained by any resident of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual meeting except Saturday, Sunday or holidays, during normal business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., prevailing time at the Minerva Central School District Office. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the total assessed value of the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation, shall be annexed to the budget document.




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 District Clerk at the District Clerk’s office at Minerva Central School District, not later than April, 20, 2026 between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time. Nominating petitions must be directed to the Clerk of the District; must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters or two percent (2%) of the voters in the previous annual election of the District, whichever shall be greater; must state the name and residence of each signer and must 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 hours.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, 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, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with the Board of Education at the District Offices, Minerva Central School District, Essex County, Olmstedville, New York on or before April 21, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. prevailing time; must be typed or printed in the English language; must be directed to the Clerk of the School District; must be signed by twenty-five (25) qualified voters or five percent (5%) of the number of qualified voters who voted in the pervious 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 power of the voters any proposition 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 expenditures of monies is required by the proposition.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for early mail and absentee ballots will be obtainable and returnable no earlier than April 20, 2026 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 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 before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, May 12, 2026; or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter, May 18, 2026. Early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on May 19, 2026.




A list of persons to whom early mail and absentee voter ballots have been issued will be available for public inspection in the office of the District Clerk from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. prevailing time on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election, except weekends, up to the day set for the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for such challenge. Such written challenge will be transmitted by the clerk to the inspectors of election on election day. 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.




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 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 twenty-five (25) days before the vote, April 24, 2026. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter’s military ballot not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.




AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to §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 by May 8, 2026 at the Essex County Board of Elections at 7551 Court Street, Elizabethtown, New York 12932 or the Warren County Board of Elections at the Warren County Human Services Building, 1340 US-9, Lake George, New York 12845. The register so prepared pursuant to d 2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the office of the Clerk of the School District at Minerva Central School, 1466 County Route 29, Olmstedville, New York, 12857 and will be open for inspection by a qualified voter of the District beginning on each of the five (5) days prior to the day of the election, excluding weekends and holidays, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time, and at the polling places on the day of the election.




Lynn Green, District Clerk

Minerva Central School District