In an executive order issued on Friday, May 1, New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that this year’s school budget vote and board of education election will take place on June 9, exclusively by absentee ballot because of the COVID-19 public health crisis.
The executive order establishes a timeline of actions that schools must undertake leading up to this date, including sending an absentee ballot with a prepaid return envelope to all qualified voters. Qualified voters are defined as U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older and have lived in the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote.
Following budget adoption, the district will make the proposed budget available to the public, hold a budget hearing (which will take place remotely), and mail a budget notice to all residents after the budget hearing. This procedure is no different than other years except for the hearing being held remotely.
Additionally, the executive order calls for districts to send each qualified voter a postcard with the date of the election, the date of the budget hearing and the definition of a qualified voter.
The district is continuing to review the details of the executive order and will share more information, including the date of the public budget hearing, as soon as possible.
Board of Education Election
The order also waived the minimum signature threshold for Board of Education candidates and states that candidates must meet all other requirements to run for the board:
- Must be able to read and write.
- Must be a qualified voter of the district.
- Must be and have been a resident of the district for a continuous and uninterrupted period of at least one year.
- May not have been removed from any school district office within the preceding year.
- May not be a current employee of the school board.
- May not simultaneously hold another incompatible public office.
Individuals intending to run for a seat on the board must submit their completed nominating petitions to District Clerk Georgia Baldwin at the district office, 20 Pine Street, Broadalbin, by Monday, May 11.