School Budget Vote & School Board Election
ANNUAL SCHOOL BUDGET VOTE & SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION (2025)
WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT IN 2025?
On the third Tuesday in May, qualified voters of the Cazenovia Central School District will have the opportunity to cast their ballots.
Propositions on the Ballot: Ballots typically have three propositions, as follows:
Proposition 1: the proposed school budget for the following academic/fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).
Proposition 2: the purchase of replacement (new) school buses.
Proposition 3: the budgets of the Cazenovia Public Library and the New Woodstock Free Library.
Board of Education Election: On the ballot you will also find the election of members to the Board of Education. See below for additional information about running for a seat on the Board of Education.
Budget Work Sessions: The annual school budget is meticulously worked on at Board of Education meetings and budget work sessions, usually starting in January. All Board of Education meetings are open to the public. Additional information regarding the budget process and calendar can be found HERE. The schedule of meetings for the Board of Education can be found HERE.
Monday, February 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm | Board of Education Conference Room, Open to the Public
Monday, March 10, 2025 at 6:30 pm | Board of Education Conference Room, Open to the Public
Town Hall: School Budget Community Dialogue Night: In addition to Regular Meetings and Special (Budget Work Session) Meetings, the District will be providing an opportunity for community engagement in building the school budget that will go up for vote on May 20.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 6:00 pm | High School Buckley Gym, Open to the Public
| Tuesday, March 25, 2025 | 6:00 pm Town Hall: School Budget Community Dialogue Night | Open to the Public High School Buckley Gym Monday, April 21, 2025 School Board Nominating Petition Deadline | District Clerk available 9:00 am to 5:00 pm (see additional info below) 2025-26 School Budget Approval by the BOE for the Vote in May | Regular BOE Meeting at 6:30 pm, Open to the Public Absentee & Early Vote by Mail Applications Now Accepted Monday, May 12, 2025 Public Hearing for the 2025-26 School Budget | Presentation to begin at 6:30 pm, HS Auditorium, Open to the Public Regular Board of Education Meeting | Immediately following the Public Hearing, BOE Conference Room, Open to the Public Tuesday, May 20, 2025 | Polls open from 7:00 am to 9:00 pm Annual Budget Vote & School Board Election Middle School Aux Gym | Open to all Qualified Voters* |
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*Per NYS Law, "A qualified voter is a person who is a citizen of the United States, at least 18 years old, a resident of the school district for at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which he or she offers to vote, and who is not otherwise prohibited from voting under the provisions of section 5-106 of the Election Law." Please refer to Policy 1630 for additional information on voter qualifications. In response to the inquiries the district has received in regards to the Board of Education election on May 21, 2024, please see the prepared Q&A: Cazenovia CSD Q&A May 21, 2024 Vote & Election |
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On the third Tuesday in May, qualified voters of the Cazenovia Central School District will have the opportunity to cast their ballots.
Propositions on the Ballot: Ballots typically have three propositions, as follows:
Proposition 1: the proposed school budget for the following academic/fiscal year (July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026).
Proposition 2: the purchase of replacement (new) school buses.
Proposition 3: the budgets of the Cazenovia Public Library and the New Woodstock Free Library.
Board of Education Election: On the ballot you will also find the election of members to the Board of Education. See below for additional information about running for a seat on the Board of Education.
DEVELOPING THE BUDGET & COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC
Budget Work Sessions: The annual school budget is meticulously worked on at Board of Education meetings and budget work sessions, usually starting in January. All Board of Education meetings are open to the public. Additional information regarding the budget process and calendar can be found HERE. The schedule of meetings for the Board of Education can be found HERE.
Monday, February 3, 2025 at 6:30 pm | Board of Education Conference Room, Open to the Public
Monday, March 10, 2025 at 6:30 pm | Board of Education Conference Room, Open to the Public
Town Hall: School Budget Community Dialogue Night: In addition to Regular Meetings and Special (Budget Work Session) Meetings, the District will be providing an opportunity for community engagement in building the school budget that will go up for vote on May 20.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 at 6:00 pm | High School Buckley Gym, Open to the Public
Approving the Budget: Prior to voters coming to the polls to vote on May 20, 2025, the Board of Education must approve the 2025-26 School Budget that will go on the ballot.
Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6:30 pm | Board of Education Conference Room, Open to the Public
Public Hearing: The public hearing to present the proposed school budget must be held seven to fourteen days prior to the vote. The day after the public hearing a budget notice will be mailed out to all district residents.
Monday, May 12, 2025 at 6:30 pm | High School Auditorium, Open to the Public
RUNNING FOR A SEAT ON THE BOARD OF EDUCATION IN 2025
In 2025, the terms for two (2) members of the Board of Education will be expiring. Members of the Board of Education are elected to serve a three (3) year, unpaid, non-partisan term. The Board of Education consists of seven (7) voting members plus the Superintendent of Schools. Those who are interested in running for election can find useful information in our policies HERE and on NYSSBA's website HERE.
Nominating petition packets are below (three parts), and hard copies can be obtained from the District Clerk. You do not have to use the petition provided by the district, however, petitions must be notarized and filed with the District Clerk no later than 30 days prior to the election. The District Clerk is a Notary Public and this service is free.
Important for 2025: According to Policy 1210, nominating petitions must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters, or by two (2) percent of the number of voters who voted in the previous annual election, whichever was greater. In 2024, 2,020 ballots were cast; therefore, petitions in 2025 will require a minimum of forty-one (41) signatures. The petition below was updated on March 3, 2025.
The NYS deadline to file a nominating petition for the 2025 Board of Education election is Monday, April 21, 2025 at 5:00 pm. Ballots go into production after this deadline.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The week of April 14-18, 2025 is Spring Recess, and the District Clerk will NOT be in the office to accept petitions.
You may file your petition at any time prior to the deadline. Please plan accordingly.
The District Clerk will be available in the District Office on Monday, April 21, 2025 from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm to accept and notarize nominating petitions. For more information on qualifications and the nominating procedure, please reference Policy 1210.
2025 Board of Education Election Documents:
- 2025 BOE Election (1) Memorandum of Information
- 2025 BOE Election (2) Petition for Nomination (2) - updated on March 3, 2025
- 2025 BOE Election (3) NYSSBA Guide to Running for School Board
On September 20, 2023, NYS Governor Kathy Hochul signed Chapter 481 of the Laws of 2023, establishing the New York Early Mail Voter Act. This newly enacted legislation, which took effect on January 1, 2024, and applies to all elections moving forward, establishes an additional method of voting early by mail.
Applications for early voting or absentee ballots may not be submitted to the District Clerk more than 30 days before the election (April 21, 2025). A list of all voters to whom an early voting or absentee ballot was issued will be kept on file in the District Office and available for inspection by any qualified voter during regular business hours for the five (5) business days preceding the vote (Tuesday, May 13 through Monday, May 19, 2025) and at the polls (Tuesday, May 20, 2025).
1. Obtain and complete an APPLICATION
Applications for early voting or absentee ballots may not be submitted to the District Clerk more than 30 days before the election (April 21, 2025). A list of all voters to whom an early voting or absentee ballot was issued will be kept on file in the District Office and available for inspection by any qualified voter during regular business hours for the five (5) business days preceding the vote (Tuesday, May 13 through Monday, May 19, 2025) and at the polls (Tuesday, May 20, 2025).
1. Obtain and complete an APPLICATION
Applications can be obtained in multiple ways as follows:
A) Download an application here: Early Voting Ballot Application or Absentee Ballot Application
B) Call or email the District Clerk to request an application by mail: (315) 655-1317 or eayres@caz.cnyric.org
C) Pick up an application in person in the District Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 3:00 pm) or by appointment
B) Call or email the District Clerk to request an application by mail: (315) 655-1317 or eayres@caz.cnyric.org
C) Pick up an application in person in the District Office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 7:30 am to 3:00 pm) or by appointment
2. Return the APPLICATION to the District Clerk
If the application requests that the ballot be mailed to the voter, it must be received at least seven (7) days prior to the vote (May 13, 2025). If the application is returned to the District Clerk in person, it must be received at least one (1) day prior to the vote (May 19, 2025).
3. Complete and return the BALLOT and its CORRESPONDING ENVELOPE
In order for your early voting, absentee, or military ballot to be counted, you must return it in its completed (signed, dated, and sealed), corresponding envelope, and it must be received by the District Clerk (by mail or in person) no later than 5:00 pm on the day of the vote (May 20, 2025).
QUESTIONS?
If you have questions that were not answered above, please contact the District Clerk, Emily Ayres, at (315) 655-1317 or eayres@caz.cnyric.org.
