BUDGET UPDATE
In an executive order issued Sunday, June 7, Governor Andrew Cuomo extended the school budget and board election ballot deadline by one week. School districts in NY can now accept school budget vote absentee ballots by mail until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16. The deadline for hand-delivered ballots, however, remains 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9.
2020-21 Proposed Budget
BH-BL residents are being asked to consider via absentee ballot a proposed $70.88 million budget that carries an estimated 1.98 percent tax rate increase for the 2020-21 school year. The proposal maintains all current academic programs and services for students while keeping the tax levy increase (2.90 percent) below the tax cap for the eighth consecutive year.
The 2020-21 Budget Forum & Hearing was Tuesday, May 26 and a detailed budget newsletter was mailed to residents in late May.
No in-person voting this year
In an executive order issued on May 1, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced that this year’s school budget vote and board of education election will take place exclusively by absentee ballot due to the COVID-19 public health crisis. Qualified voters were mailed absentee ballots in early June. If you are a qualified voter but did NOT receive an absentee ballot, please contact the District Office at 518-399-9141. Provisional ballots can be obtained until Tuesday, June 9.
Returning Ballots
Per the Governor’s executive order, there are two ways absentee ballots can be returned.
- Ballots may be hand delivered until 5 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9. Drop off locations are any of the three elementary schools or the district office (Hostetter Leadership Center) entrance located at the High School, 88 Lakehill Road. (The middle school is under construction.) The buildings are open Monday, June 7 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Tuesday, June 9 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The district is unable to accept hand-delivered ballots after Tuesday, June 9.
- Absentee ballots can be mailed in the district-provided, prepaid return envelope. By law, the district must receive mailed ballots by 5 p.m. on June 16, 2020, in order for the ballot to be included in the vote count.
Qualified Voters
Qualified voters are defined as U.S. citizens who are 18 years or older, have lived in the district for at least 30 days prior to the vote, are registered to vote with the county or school district, and have not been disqualified by any reason set forth in NYS Election Law §5-106. Qualified voters who are already registered to vote will automatically receive an absentee ballot. BH-BL residents who meet the definition of a “qualified voter” but have not registered to vote must do so to receive an absentee ballot. A qualified voter may do so by contacting their County Board of Elections. For questions about registering at BH-BL, please contact the Deputy District Clerk Rebecca Manson at rmanson@bhbl.org or 518-399-9141.