Author: monique.jacobs

Fort Plain Central School District residents will vote on Tuesday, May 17, on a proposed $22,520,000 budget for the 2022-23 school year. The vote will be held from 1-9 p.m. in the Harry Hoag gym.

The proposed budget, which includes a $645,000 (2.95%) spending increase and a $83,029 (1.44%) tax levy increase, would preserve the district’s academic programming and services to meet student needs.

“The district’s goal is to propose a responsible  budget that supports high quality educational programs and services for our students. The proposed budget would achieve that goal,” said Interim Superintendent Jeffery Ziegler.

Residents will also vote on propositions to:

• Purchase four school vehicles at a maximum cost of $468,000, with the funds to be drawn from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund. The purchase would allow the district to replace aging buses and minimize maintenance costs.
• Increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund from $5,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $10,000,000.
• Establish a new Repair Reserve Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, with a probable term of ten (10) years, for the purpose of financing the repair of various school district buildings, facilities, sites and equipment, to be funded from the district’s unappropriated fund balance and future budget surpluses.
• Undertake an energy performance/savings project to allow the district to maximize state building aid, at an estimated maximum cost of $5,000,000 that would be covered by long-term energy cost savings achieved by the implementation of energy conservation measures.

Voters will elect two members to the Board of Education for three-year terms running from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2025, for seats currently held by Mary Beth Hudyncia and Ronald Kardash, whose terms expire June 30, 2022. There is only one candidate, Kaitlyn Webb.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the District Clerk between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven 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. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 17, 2022.

Detailed information is posted on the budget webpage.

A public hearing on the Fort Plain Central School District’s proposed budget for the 2022-23 school year will be held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the District Office Conference Room. Residents will vote on the proposed budget on Tuesday, May 17, from 1-9 p.m. in the Harry Hoag gym.

They will also vote on propositions to: purchase four school vehicles; increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund; establish a new Repair Reserve Fund; undertake an energy performance/savings project; and elect two members to the Board of Education to seats currently held by Mary Beth Hudyncia and Ronald Kardash, whose terms expire June 30, 2022. Nominating petitions are due with the District Clerk no later than April 18 at 5 p.m.

Applications for absentee ballots may be obtained from the District Clerk between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk at least seven 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. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on May 17.

Read the full Legal Notice of the Budget Hearing, Budget Vote and Election

LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF BUDGET HEARING, BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION
FORT PLAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

To the qualified voters of the Fort Plain Central School District, Fort Plain, NY: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Public Hearing on the proposed School District Budget for the 2022-2023 school year will be held in the District Office Conference Room on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 at 6:00 p.m., prevailing time. Copies of the budget will be available for review from May 3 to May 16, 2022 at the District Office.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual District Meeting and Election of the qualified voters of the Fort Plain Central School District will be held in the Harry Hoag School Gymnasium in said District on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 between the hours of 1:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time at which time the polls will be opened to vote by voting machine upon the following items:

1. 2022-2023 Budget: To adopt the annual budget of the Fort Plain Central School District for the fiscal year 2022-2023 and to authorize the requisite portion thereof to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.

2. Proposition: Shall the Board of Education of the Fort Plain Central School District be authorized to: (a) acquire four (4) school vehicles at a maximum aggregate cost not to exceed $468,000; (b) expend such sums for such purpose; (c) expend from the Bus Purchase/Capital Reserve Fund an amount not to exceed $468,000 for such purpose; (d) levy the necessary tax therefore, to be levied and collected in such amounts as may be determined by the Board of Education taking into account state aid received and amounts disbursed from the reserve fund; and (e) in anticipation of the collection of such tax, to issue bonds and notes of the District at one time or from time to time in the principal amount not to exceed $468,000, and to levy a tax to pay the interest on such obligations when due?

3. Proposition: Shall the Board of Education be authorized to increase the maximum funding level of the existing Transportation and Capital Reserve Fund from $5,000,000 to an amount not to exceed $10,000,000?

4. Proposition: Shall the Board of Education be authorized to establish a new Repair Reserve Fund in an amount not to exceed $1,000,000, with a probable term of ten (10) years, for the purpose of financing the repair of various School District buildings, facilities, sites and equipment, with such Repair Reserve Fund being funded from unappropriated fund balance and future budget surpluses?

5. Proposition: SHALL the Board of Education be authorized to undertake a particular energy performance/savings project pursuant to Article 9 of the Energy Law (said voter authorization not necessary to allow the project to go forward, as the project may be undertaken by the Board of Education on its own, but rather to allow the District to receive an additional 10% measure of building aid from the State of New York for such project); therefore, in order to maximize the District’s receipt of building aid from the State, the voters of the District hereby specifically approve an energy performance/savings project, at an estimated maximum cost of $5,000,000, the cost of which is to be covered by long-term energy cost savings, which will be achieved by the implementation of certain designated energy conservation measures.

6. Election of Board Member Seats: To elect two (2) members of the Board of Education to a three (3) year term commencing on July 1, 2022 and expiring on June 30, 2025 to succeed Mary Beth Hudyncia and Ronald Kardash whose terms expire on June 30, 2022.

7. 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 the 2022-2023 school year, exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any taxpayer in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding the Annual Meeting except Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, at District school buildings between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time and also at said District Election. A report of tax exemptions, showing how much of the total assessed value on the final assessment roll or rolls used in that budgetary process is exempt from taxation shall be annexed to the budget document.

The election and budget vote shall be by machine or absentee ballot. The hours during which the polls shall be kept open shall be from 1:00 p.m. to 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.

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 Clerk of said School District at her office in the Harry Hoag School not later than April 18, 2022 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., prevailing time. Each petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the District and shall be signed by at least 25 voters of the District, 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. The petition shall describe at least the length of the term of office and contain the name of the last incumbent, must state the name and residence of each signer, and must state the name and residence of the candidate.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that applications for absentee ballots will be obtainable between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, except holidays, from the District Clerk. The District Clerk must receive completed applications 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. Absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk not later than 5:00 p.m., prevailing time, on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. A list of persons to whom absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the office of the District Clerk on and after May 9, 2022 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on weekdays prior to the day set for the annual election and on May 17, 2022, the day set for the election. Any qualified voter present in the polling place may object to the voting of the ballot upon appropriate grounds by making his/her challenge and the reasons therefore known to the Inspector of Election before the close of the polls.

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 District Clerk. All completed absentee ballots shall be received by the Office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on May 17, 2022.

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 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 District Clerk 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 April 22, 2022. The District Clerk must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY 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, and (3) a resident within the School District for a period of thirty (30) days immediately preceding the annual 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, a voter registration card or any identification containing a person’s physical address. 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.

AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that pursuant to a rule adopted by the Board of Education in accordance with Sections 2035 and 2008 of the Education law, any referenda or propositions to amend the budget, or otherwise to be submitted for voting at said vote and election, must be filed with the Board of Education at the Fort Plain Central School District on or before April 18, 2022 at 4:00 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 at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters, or five percent (5%) of the registered voters of the District who voted in the previous annual election of Board members, whichever is greater; and must state the name and residence of each signer. However, the School Board will not entertain or place before the voters any proposition if its purpose is beyond the power of the voters or is illegal, or any proposition requiring the expenditure of moneys which fails to include specific appropriations for all such expenditures required by the proposition.