ICHABOD CRANE 1050
ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION AND BUDGET VOTE
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 election and budget vote will be held on the third Tuesday in May, unless, due to a conflict with religious observance, the Board requests that the Commissioner approve changing the election date to the second Tuesday in May. The request is due to the Commissioner by March 1st.
The District Clerk shall publish a notice of the time and place of the annual election and budget vote at least four times within the seven weeks prior to the election, in two newspapers having general circulation within the district. The first publication of the notice shall be at least 45 days prior to the election. The notice shall also contain notice of any other matter required by law.
Copies of the budget to be voted upon at the annual election and budget vote will be available upon request in each district school building, at the school district offices, and at any public library or free association library within the district, for district residents at the time of the annual election and budget vote and the 14 days preceding (other than Saturday, Sunday and holidays), as well as on the school district’s internet website.
The Board shall appoint assistant clerks and election inspectors necessary for the annual election and budget vote at a Board meeting held before the annual election and budget vote.
Propositions
The Board has the authority, under the Education Law, to adopt reasonable rules and regulations concerning the submission of petitions to the Board to place propositions on the ballot which may amend the budget. Pursuant to those provisions, the Board establishes the following guidelines:
- Unless otherwise provided by the Education Law, petitions for the submission of a proposition must contain a minimum of 25 signatures of qualified voters of the district or 5 percent of the eligible voters who voted in the previous annual election of the members of the Board of Education, whichever is greater.
- Petitions must be filed with the District Clerk at least 30 days prior to the annual election, except for petitions relating to a proposition which must be included in the notice of the annual election (e.g., changing the number of board members). Such petitions must be submitted 60 days in advance of the annual election to facilitate the preparation and printing of the ballots.
- Propositions must include the specific appropriations necessary for the purposes listed.
- Wording of a petition must comply with legal requirements. If the wording does not comply, it may be changed or altered by the Board, or the Board may reject a petition for failure to comply.
Propositions received in accordance with these specifications will be placed on the ballot as amendments 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 forbidden 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.
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
Phillips v. Maurer, 67 N.Y.2d 672 (1986)
Appeal of the Bd. of Educ. of the Greenwood Lake UFSD, 47 EDR 446 (2008)
Matter of Hebel, 34 EDR 319 (1994)
Matter of Martin, 32 EDR 567 (1993)
Matter of Como, 30 EDR 214 (1990)
Mandated Policy
Effective Date: April 4, 2023