*NOTICE OF ANNUAL SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE, LIBRARY TAX, AND ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBER FOR THE UNATEGO CENTRAL SCHOOL* NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual Budget Hearing of the inhabitants of the Unatego Central School, qualified to vote at school meetings in said District, will be held in the Board Room #93 at the Unatego Middle/Senior High School, 2641 State Highway 7, Otego, NY 13825, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at 6:30 p.m. where the proposed school district budget for the 2026-2027 school year shall be presented. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual District Budget Vote for those qualified to vote in said District to vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures or 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 in the District Office hallway at the Unatego MS/Senior High School,2641 State Highway 7, Otego, NY 13825, on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 12:00 noon and 8:00 p.m. for such business as is authorized by the Education Law. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for school purposes may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen days immediately preceding the vote and on the date of election except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Unatego Elementary School, 265 Main Street, Unadilla, New York 13849, and the Unatego MS/Senior High School, 2641 State Hwy 7, Otego, New York 13825. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that 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. and not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2026. The following vacancies are to be filled: a) A three-year term ending June 30, 2029, currently held by David Clapper b) A three-year term ending June 30, 2029, currently held by Brian Davis c) A three-year term ending June 30, 2029, currently held by Cindy O'Hara Candidates do not run for a specific seat but rather all vacant seats are “at large,”meaning that each nominee is eligible for every vacancy, rather than only one specific seat. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, be signed by at least twenty-five qualified voters of the District and shall state the name and physical residence (911 address) of the candidate. The candidate must meet all the other requirements to run for the board. These include being qualified voters and having lived in the district continuously for one year prior to the election. The individuals receiving the highest number of votes shall be elected to the vacancies. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that at such Annual District Meeting and Budget Vote scheduled to be held on May 19, 2026, the following propositions shall be voted upon: RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Unatego Central School District is hereby authorized to expend the sum of $27,898,736 as a general fund appropriate for the 2026-2027 school year and to levy the necessary tax therefor. RESOLVED, that pursuant to Education Law, Section 259, the Board of Education of the Unatego Central School District is authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, year after year, separate and apart from the annual school district budget, in the amount of $99,423 of which $30,000 will be paid to the Unadilla Public Library for the support and maintenance of the library and $69,423 will be paid to the Harris Memorial Library for the support and maintenance of the library; with this appropriated amount to be the annual appropriation until thereafter modified by a future vote of the electors of the Unatego School District. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that 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 which proposition shall be filed with the Board of Education not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 20, 2026, 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. The District reserves the right to alter the language of a proposition in order to ensure compliance and conformity with the law. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that early mail ballots for the vote may be applied for at the office of the District Clerk. A list of all persons to whom early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the office of the District Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of the vote except Sundays, and such list will also be posted at the polling place or places for the vote NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that qualified voters may apply for absentee ballots at the District Clerk's Office. All eligible voters are entitled to an absentee ballot. You are an eligible voter if you are 1) a U.S. citizen, 2) eighteen years of age or older, 3) a resident of the school district for at least 30 days before the vote, 4) and not otherwise disqualified to vote by law. Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained at the District Clerk's office from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Completed applications must be received by the Clerk of the District no later than seven days prior to the scheduled date of the vote 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 ballots are to be received no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 19, 2026, to the district office. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN that 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 607-988-5038 or snolan@unatego.stier.org. 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. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots 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, except Sundays during regular business hours, 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. April 20, 2026By order of the Board of Education of Eduction of the Unatego Central School District By: Sheila Nolan District Clerk
