The District shall hold an annual election and budget vote at which the District’s authorized voters will elect members of the Board of Education and vote on the District budget for the coming school year. The Annual District Meeting and Election shall be held on the third Tuesday in May unless, due to a conflict with religious observance, the Board requests by March 1st that the Commissioner approve changing the date to the second Tuesday in May.
The District Clerk shall publish notice of the time and place of the Budget Hearing and Annual Meeting four times within the seven weeks prior to the election/vote in two newspapers having general circulation in the District, if there are two such newspapers. The first publication shall be at least forty-five (45) days before said meeting.
A budget hearing must be held at least seven (7) days but not more than fourteen (14) days before the date of the Annual Meeting and Election to present the budget to the public.
The budget will be available to the public on the District’s website. In addition, copies of the budget will be available to district residents in each school building, at any public library or free association library within the District, at least fourteen (14) days (other than Saturday, Sunday and holidays) prior to the Annual Meeting and at the Annual Meeting.
The Board shall appoint assistant clerks and election inspectors necessary for the Annual Meeting and Election.
Propositions
Individuals desiring to submit propositions, or amendments to be placed on the ballot at the Annual Meeting shall comply with the following requirements:
Unless otherwise provided by the Education Law, petitions for the submission of a proposition must contain a minimum of twenty-five (25) signatures of qualified voters of the District, or five percent (5%) of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election of Board members, whichever is greater.
Propositions which require the expenditures of monies must include the specific dollar amount. The Board may reject any proposition if it fails to include the specific appropriation.
Petitions must be filed with the District Clerk at least sixty (60) days prior to the Annual Meeting.
A separate petition shall be required for each question or proposition.
All petitions shall contain clearly and concisely the proposition or question to be placed upon the voting machine. The wording must comply with legal requirements. If not, the proposition may be changed by the Board or the Board may reject the petition.
Amendments to propositions must be filed with the District Clerk no later than forty-five (45) days prior to the Annual Meeting and Election and must be supported by petitions containing the number of signatures set forth in paragraph “1.”
The Board, in its discretion, shall determine the order in which all questions or propositions shall appear on the voting machines.
Petitions received in accordance with these specifications will be placed on the ballot as propositions and will be voted upon by the voters in the same manner as the proposed budget, except that the Board shall not be required to place any proposition on the ballot which is within the exclusive province of the Board, or otherwise prohibited by law. No proposition involving the budget may be submitted to the voters more than twice within a twelve month period.
The Board may also, on its own motion, submit propositions.
Budget and Bond Referenda Information
The Superintendent of Schools shall approve all information regarding District expenditures submitted to the District voters for approval.
Electioneering
Electioneering during the hours of any vote is prohibited within the polling place or within 100 feet of the entrance to any such polling place. Electioneering includes the display or distribution of any banner, poster, placard, button, or flyer, on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or issue to be voted upon.
Improper Advocacy
The district may provide informational material to the voters concerning budgets, propositions, or other matters before the electorate. However, school district funds and resources may not be used to exhort voters to support a particular position. For example, the District will not engage in activities including, but not limited to, sending flyers supporting the budget home with students, providing mailing labels for materials supporting a proposition or using the district e-mail to deliver promotional material for candidates.
Ref: Education Law §§416(3); 1608(2); 1716(2) 1804(4); 1906(1); 2002(1); 2003(1)(2); 2004(1)-(7); 2009; 2021;2022(1), (4)-(5); 2035(2); 2601-a(2)
General Construction Law §60
Matter of Hebel, 34 EDR 319 (1994)
Matter of Martin, 32 EDR 567 (1993)
Matter of Como, 30 EDR 214 (1990)
Adoption date: December 1, 1995
Amended date: January 22, 2007
Amended date: November 16, 2009
Adoption date: November 23, 2015
Amended date: February 13, 2017
Reviewed date: December 7, 2023