SUFFOLK COUNTY
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING AND BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION OF
THE OYSTERPONDS UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT IN ORIENT
TOWN OF SOUTHOLD, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Public (Budget) Hearing of the qualified voters of the Oysterponds Union Free School District in Orient, Town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York, will be held at the Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York, in said District, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m., prevailing time, for the transaction of business as authorized by the Education Law including the following items:
* To present to the voters a detailed statement (proposed budget) of the amount of money required for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
* To discuss all the items hereinafter set forth to be voted upon by paper ballots at the Budget Vote (Annual District Meeting) to be held on Tuesday May 19, 2026.
* To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting pursuant to the Education Law of the State of New York and acts amendatory thereto.
A copy of the proposed budget shall be made available, upon request, to residents of the School District beginning Tuesday, April 28, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m., prevailing time and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time, except holidays and weekends, at the Business Office, Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York.
Pursuant to Chapter 258 of the Laws of 2008, Section 495 was added to the Real Property Tax Law and requires the School District 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 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 said Budget Vote and Election (Annual District Meeting) will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, at the Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York, at which time the polls will be open to vote by paper ballot upon the following items;
* 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 School District.
* To elect two (2) members to the Board of Education each for a three (3) year term commencing July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029 and one (1) individual to complete the last two years of a three year term to fill a vacant seat commencing on July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2028 in an “At-Large” election.
* To adopt the budget of the Floyd Memorial Library for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the School District.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of the statement of the amount of monies which will be required to fund the School District’s budget 2026-2027, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District between the hours of 9:00 a.m., prevailing time and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time beginning April 28, 2026 except holidays and weekends, at the Business Office, Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York.
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 of the School District during normal business hours at the District Clerk’s office in the Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York not later than April 20, 2026 between 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. As vacancies on the Board of Education are considered to be “at-large”; nominating petitions are not to describe any specific vacancy for which a candidate is nominated; two (2) vacancies have arisen as a result of the expiration of the terms of office; terms of office are to be three (3) years and; one (1) vacancy has arisen as a result of a vacancy due to a resignation to complete the terms of office; terms of office are two (2 years). Petitions must be directed to the District Clerk of the School District and must be signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the District; must state the name and residence of each signer and must state the name and residence of the candidate.
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 any Annual or Special District Meeting within the past four (4) years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that qualified voters seeking to register may appear during normal school hours at the Office of the District Clerk, Oysterponds School, 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York prior to May 12, 2026; should it be determined by the District Clerk that the proposed registrant is qualified to vote his/her name will be placed on the register prepared for the aforesaid vote/election. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the District Clerk in the Oysterponds School, 23405 Main
Road, Orient, New York, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time, on each day up to and including the day set for the election, except holidays and weekends, and at the polling place on the day of the vote.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law of the State of New York the Board of Registration will meet on May 19, 2026 between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., prevailing time at the polling site to prepare the Register to be used at the budget vote and election for the Annual Meeting to be held in 2026, and at any special district meetings 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 applications for early mail ballots or absentee ballots will be obtainable during school business hours from the District Clerk at 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York 11957, or by calling that office (631) 323-2410 option #4, or by contacting the District Clerk via email, loleary@oysterponds.org beginning April 20, 2026; completed applications 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, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. Early mail ballots or absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing time, on May 19, 2026 in order to be canvassed. A list of the persons to whom early mail ballots or absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the School District in the office of the District Clerk on and after May 14, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., prevailing time, on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such a list, file a written challenge of the qualifications as a voter of any person, whose name appears on such a list, stating the reasons for such challenge. Any such written challenge shall be transmitted by the District Clerk or a designee of the Board of Education to the inspectors of election on the day of the vote. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot.
In accordance with Part 122 of the Rules and Regulations of the Commissioner of Education, military voters who are qualified voters of the School District may apply for a military ballot. Applications for military ballots, may be requested from the District Clerk at 23405 Main Road, Orient, New York 11957, o
