Annual Budget Hearing and Election for Worcester Central School District.

LEGAL NOTICE Notice of Budget Hearing, Annual Meeting and Election Worcester Central School District 198 Main Street Otsego County, Worcester, New York, 12197 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Budget Hearing of the inhabitants of the Worcester Central School District, Otsego County, Worcester, New York, qualified to vote at school meetings in said district, will be held at the school building at the address listed above in the library of said District on Wednesday, May 6, 2026 at 6:30 p.m., prevailing time. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Annual Meeting and Election of the qualified voters of the Worcester Central School District, Otsego County, New York, to vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures, or any propositions involving the expenditure of money, or authorizing a levy of taxes, including those listed below, or any proposition duly presented in accordance with election education law, as well as the election of members of the Board of Education, shall be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 between the hours of 12:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, in the library of Worcester Central School at the address listed above, at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine. At said meeting, the following will be put to vote: 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. To elect one member of the Board of Education for a five-year term commencing July 1, 2026 and concluding June 30, 2031, to fill the vacancy created by the expiration of the term of William Fisher II. "Pursuant to Education Law, Section 259, the Board of Education of the Worcester Central School is authorized to levy and collect an annual tax, separate and apart from the annual school district tax. An increase of $7500 (bringing the total levy to $40,000) shall be approved by the taxpayers of the Worcester Central School District, to be paid to the Worcester Free Library for the support and maintenance of the library." 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 a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the School District's budget for the 2026-2027 school year may be obtained by any resident of the School District during regular business hours for fourteen (14) days preceding the date of the Annual Meeting and election and on the day of election in the main office at Worcester Central School (except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays). NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that petitions nominating the candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education may be picked up at the District Office and upon completion must be filed with the Clerk of the District in the District Office at Worcester Central School, Monday through Friday, excluding any holidays, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Petitions must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on April 20, 2026. Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District and signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the School District, stating the 911 address of each signer, and shall state the name and 911 address of the candidate. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote at said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen years of age or older, (3) a resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election, (4) and not otherwise prohibited from voting by law. 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 2018-c. Such forms may include a driver's license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offering proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name, and 911 address. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that a qualified voter of the School District who will be unable to vote on the day of the referendum may apply for an absentee ballot between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election set in this notice if the ballot is to be mailed to the absentee voter, or the day before the election, if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the absentee voter. Those District residents who meet the criteria for “permanently disabled”and are so certified by the Otsego County Board of Elections, will automatically receive an absentee ballot by mail from the District. Absentee ballots must be received in the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on May 19, 2026, in order that the vote be canvassed. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that applications for qualified voters of the School District for early voting will be obtainable between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. Completed early mail ballot applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven (7) days before the election set in this notice 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 must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing time on the day of the election. 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) 397-8785 or wendyelliott@worcestercs.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 p.m., prevailing time, 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 no later than twenty-five (25) days before the election. Military ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m. prevailing time on the day of the election, in order to be canvassed. NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that a list of persons to whom early mail, absentee, and military ballots have been issued shall be available for public inspection to qualified voters of the School District in the office of the District Clerk between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, on each day besides Sunday beginning May 13, 2026 until the date of the election from; and on May 19, 2026, the day set for the election, said list will be present at the polling place during the election. Any qualified voter may, upon examination of such list, file a written challenge of qualifications as a voter of any person whose name appears on such list, stating the reason for the challenge. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may challenge the acceptance of the absentee voter's ballot or a person on such list, by making this challenge and the reason for such challenge known to the inspectors of election before the close of the polls. Dated: March 25, 2026 By order of the Worcester Central School District Board of Education. Submitted by: Wendy Elliott, District Clerk Worcester Central School 198 Main Street Worcester, New York 12197