Documents › Board of Education, 2026-02-12

budget 4 pages

Also attached to this agenda item: Policy 1230--Public Comment at Board Meetings FOR... Policy 2120.2--Voting Procedures FOR SECOND READING 2-12-26 Policy 2210--Board Organizational Meeting FOR SECOND... Policy 5420.1--Concussion Management FOR SECOND READING 2-12-26

1050 ANNUAL DISTRICT ELECTION AND BUDGET VOTE The District shall hold an annual election and budget vote at which the District’s qualified voters will elect members of the Board of Education, vote on the District budget for the coming school year, and vote for propositions that are properly placed before the voters. The annual District meeting and election will be held on the third Tuesday in May, unless this date conflicts with religious observances on that day, in which case the Board may request (no later than March 1st that the Commissioner of Education (“Commissioner”) approve changing the election date to the second Tuesday in May, and if the District receives such certification, the annual meeting and election is to be held on that date. The voting shall be conducted from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at a location within the District to be determined by the Board. As provided by Education Law § 2022-a, upon request of the District, or upon determination of the Commissioner, the Commissioner may provide for an additional day of voting for the annual meeting and election if they determine that less than eight percent (8%) of qualified voters voted as a direct consequence of a disaster as defined in that section. The date of such additional voting day will be determined by the Commissioner, and all other provisions related to such additional voting day will be applied as set forth in Education Law § 2022-a. 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 forty-five (45) days prior to the election. Such notice shall also state that petitions nominating candidates for the office of member of the board of education must be filed in the office of the clerk of the district between the hours of nine a.m. and five p.m., not later than the thirtieth day preceding the school meeting or election at which the candidates so nominated are to be elected. 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 on the District’s website, in the District office, and in each district school building for District residents upon request at the time of the annual public budget hearing, and at the Croton Free Library, for district residents to have the opportunity to review prior to the annual election and budget vote. The copies of the budget will be available for at least seven (7) days preceding the annual public budget hearing and shall remain available through and including the date of the annual meeting and budget vote. Notice of the availability of copies of the budget must be included in the notice of the annual public budget hearing. Additionally, the announcement and introduction of candidates for the Board will be made as well as the presentation and explanation of any special propositions contained in the notice of the public budget hearing. At a Board meeting held before the annual public budget hearing, the Board shall appoint assistant clerks and election inspectors necessary for the election. Propositions Deleted: authorized Deleted: and fourteen (14) days (other than Saturday, Sunday and holidays) prior to the hearing, … Deleted: school district offices, and at any public library or Deleted: free association library Deleted: within the district Deleted: at the time of Deleted: (other than Saturday, Sunday and holidays), as well as on the school district's internet website… The Board has the authority, under the Education Law, to submit propositions for a vote at the annual district election and budget vote and to adopt reasonable rules and regulations concerning the submission of petitions by registered voters to the Board to place propositions on the ballot. By resolution of the Board adopted no less than thirty (30) days before the annual meeting and budget vote, or forty-five (45) days before the annual meeting and budget vote if such proposition must be stated in the published or posted notice of the meeting (e.g. a proposition relating to the expenditure of funds or a proposition to increase or decrease the number of school board members). The Board will consider petitions from the public for placement of propositions on the ballot for a vote. The Board establishes the following policy for the submission of such propositions: 1. 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 eligible voters of the District who voted in the previous annual election of the members of the Board of Education, whichever is greater. 2. Petitions must be filed with the District Clerk at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual district meeting and budget vote, except for petitions relating to a proposition which must be included in the notice of the annual district meeting and budget vote which must be filed at least sixty (60) days prior to the annual district meeting and budget vote. 3. Where the expenditure of moneys is required by the proposition, the proposition must include the specific appropriations necessary for the purposes listed. 4. 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. However, the school board will not entertain any petition to place before the voters: 1. that has a purpose of which is not within the power of the voters to determine; 2. that is contrary to law; 3. where the expenditure of moneys is required by the proposition, if the proposition fails to include the necessary specific appropriation; 4. whose substance has previously been held by the Commissioner of Education to be inappropriate for placement on the ballot; or 5. where other valid reason exists for excluding the proposition from the ballot. Any proposition, or propositions collectively that are subject to a vote on the same date, that would require an expenditure of money that would require a tax levy and would result in the Deleted: which may amend the budget Deleted: Pursuant to those provisions, the Deleted: guidelines Deleted: election Deleted: election (e.g., changing the number of board members) Deleted: Such petitions must be submitted sixty (60) days in advance of the annual election to facilitate the preparation and printing of the ballots.… Deleted: The Board may reject a proposition if the purpose of the proposition is not within the power of the voters.… tax levy being exceeded for the corresponding school year shall require approval by sixty percent of the votes cast thereon. A question or proposition required to be submitted at an annual or special meeting shall be in form sufficiently condensed for use in the voting machine and shall otherwise conform as nearly as possible to the ballots required to be used under the Election Law for the submission of questions or propositions at a general election. The full text of such question or proposition shall be conspicuously posted at the place of voting 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. No proposition involving the budget may be submitted to the voters more than twice within a twelve month period. 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. Cross-ref: 2120, School Board Elections 2120.1, Candidates and Campaigning 2120.2, Voting Procedures 6100, Annual Budget 6120, Budget Hearing Ref: Education Law §§416(3); 1703(2); 1716; 2002; 2004(1)-(7); 2009; 2022; 2022-a; 2023-a(9); 2035; 2105 General Construction Law §60 Phillips v. Maurer, 67 N.Y.2d 672 (1986) Appeal of McNamee, 56 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 17,103 (2017) Appeal of Berhalter and Conti, 48 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 15,910 (2009) Appeal of the Bd. of Educ. of the Greenwood Lake UFSD, 47 EDR 446, 47 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 15,749 (2008) Appeals of Ciffone and Kaufman, 45 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 15,376 (2006) Appeal of Johnson, 44 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 15,206 (2005) Appeal of Lawson, 36 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 13,774 (1997) Appeal of Cappa, 36 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 13,724 (1997) Matter of Hebel, 34 EDR 319, 34 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 13,326 (1994) Appeal of Bode, 33 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 13,043 (1993) Appeal of Vaughn, 33 Ed. Dept. Rep. Dec, No. 13,020 (1993) Matter of Martin, 32 EDR 567, 32 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 12,915 (1993) Appeal of Leman and Roujansky, 32 Ed. Dept. Rep., Dec. No. 12,919 (1993) Deleted: , 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… Deleted: ¶ The Board may also, on its own motion, submit propositions. Deleted: (1) Deleted: Matter of Como, 30 EDR 214 (1990)¶ Adoption date: November 14, 1994 Revised: December 14, 2009 June 3, 2021 _________________ FOR SECOND READING 2-12-26 [ADDITIONS AND DELETIONS IN TRACK CHANGES; INCLUDES PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 547 OF THE LAWS OF 2025]