NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET, ANNUAL MEETING, SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION
AND VOTE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Northeast Central School District, Dutchess and Columbia Counties, New York, will hold a Public Hearing on the Budget in the High School Library at the Webutuck High School Building, Haight Road, Amenia, New York, or on Zoom (please check www.webutuckschools.org click the red circle on the homepage for an update status on this meeting) on Monday, May 10, 2021 at 7:00 P.M., for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the 2021-2022 School Year.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required to fund the budget for the 2021-2022 school year, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during business hours, between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., prevailing time, at the Webutuck Elementary School, Eugene Brooks Intermediate School, Webutuck High School and at the District Administrative Office between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, effective April 27, 2021, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays. Copies of the Budget will also be available at the Northeast-Millerton Library and the Amenia Free Library.
The election and budget vote shall be by machine or absentee ballot. The hours during which the poll shall be kept open shall be from 12:00 Noon until 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, or for as long thereafter as necessary to enable qualified voters who are in the polling place at 9:00 P.M. to cast their ballots.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Annual Meeting, Election of Members of the Board of Education and Vote on the Budget of the qualified voters of the Northeast Central School District, will be held on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at the Webutuck High School gym, Haight Road, Amenia, New York, between the hours of 12:00 Noon and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, when the polls will be open for the purpose of voting by voting machine:
A. To elect four (4) members to the Board of Education at large, two (2) for three-year terms, commencing July 1, 2021 and expiring on June 30, 2024 to fill the vacant seats of incumbent board members, Nikki Johnson, and Rick Keller Coffey, one (1) to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Jay Newman whose term shall expire on June 30, 2023, and one (1) to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Steve Abad whose term shall expire on June 30, 2022.
B. Shall the 2021-2022 Budget as adopted by the Board of Education in the amount of $24,798,803, with anticipated revenue exclusive of taxes in the amount of $8,582,074 and the amount to be raised through taxes of $16,216,729, be approved?
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the qualified voters of the School District shall be entitled to vote in said annual vote and election. A qualified voter is one who is (1) a citizen of the United States of America, (2) eighteen (18) years of age or older, and (3) resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days preceding the annual vote and election. 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 section 2018-c. Such form may include a driver’s license, a non-driver identification card, a utility bill, or a voter registration card. Upon offer of proof of residency, the School District may also require all persons offering to vote to provide their signature, printed name and address.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that absentee ballots will be available for this Election and Vote. Applications for absentee ballots for the School District Election and Vote may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk at the Webutuck High School building, Haight Road, Amenia, New York on school days during school hours. The application must be returned to the District Clerk at least seven (7) days prior to the election if the ballot is to be mailed, or the day before the election if the ballot will be picked up personally by the voter. Absentee ballots must be received at the Office of the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 P.M., prevailing time, on the day of the Election and Vote, May 18, 2021.
The Education Law makes special provisions for absentee voting by “permanently disabled” voters of the District and any questions regarding these should be directed to the District Clerk. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots shall have been issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District at the said District Administrative Offices during regular office hours, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, including the day of the Election and Vote. Any qualified voter may file a written challenge the acceptance of the ballot of any person on such list, by making his/her challenge and reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.
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 absentee ballot applications and absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, 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 accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission, or if no preferred method is identified by mail, not later than 25 days before the vote. 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.
AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Education Law § § 2035, 2008, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said election, must be filed with and directed to the District Clerk at the District Office, on or before April 19, 2021; must be typed or printed in the English language. However, the Board of Education will not entertain or place before the voters any petition or any proposition if its purpose is beyond the power of the voters or is illegal, or any proposition requiring the expenditure of monies which fails to include specific appropriations for all such expenditures required by the proposition.
Therese M. Trotter
Clerk of the Board
Northeast (Webutuck) Central School District
194 Haight Road,
P.O. Box 405
Amenia, NY 12501
05-06-2021
