LEGAL NOTICE   NOTICE OF ANNUAL BUDGET HEARING TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY, MAY 5, 2026 @ 6:30PM AND ANNUAL BUDGET VOTE/ELECTION SCHEDULED ON MAY 19, 2026   NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the annual meeting of the inhabitants of the Friendship Central School District No. 1 qualified to vote at school meetings in said District will hold a 2026-27 Budget Hearing on May 5, 2026, at 6:30pm for the transaction of such business as is authorized by the Education Law; and   NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for office of the members of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District between 7:30am and 3:30pm no later than the thirtieth (30) day preceding the annual election.   The vacancy(s) to be filled on the Board of Education is:   Five-year term to succeed the expired term of Craig Plaisted, said term to expire June 30, 2031.   Each petition must be directed to the Clerk of the District, must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District, must state the residence of each signed, must state the name and residence of the candidate and must describe the specific vacancy for which the candidate is nominated, including at least the length of the term of the office and the name of the incumbent.   NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that the Annual School District election of the qualified voters of said School District will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, between the hours of 12:00 Noon and 8:00pm. for the election of (1) member(s) to the Board of Education and for the vote upon the appropriation of necessary funds to meet the established expenditures of the District, and on the propositions involving the expenditure of money and authorizing the levy of taxes by the District and for voting upon any other propositions lawfully and properly submitted to be voted upon at such annual district meeting. All absentee ballots must be received by 5:00pm on May 19, 2026.   AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the Friendship Central School District. A military voter registration application may be requested from the Board of Education at 46 West Main Street, Friendship, New York, and must be returned to the Office of the District Clerk at 46 West Main Street, Friendship, New York, not later than 5:00pm on April 23, 2026. A military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the registration application by mail, facsimile transmission, or email.   AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that Education Law also makes special provisions for absentee voting for “military” voters of the District. Specifically, the law provides a unique procedure for “military ballots” in school district votes. Whereas absentee ballots must be received by the voter by mail, a military voter may elect to receive his/her absentee ballot application and absentee ballot by mail, email or facsimile. If a military voter does not designate a preference, the Board of Education shall transmit the military ballot application or military ballot by mail. If a military voter designates a preference for facsimile transmission or electronic mail but does not provide the necessary facsimile number or email address, the Board of Education shall transmit the voter registration application, military ballot application or military ballot by mail and request the omitted information. The military voter must, however, return his/her original military ballot application and military ballot by mail or in person, regardless of how the absentee application or ballot was received. The Clerk of the Board shall transmit the military voter’s military ballot in accord with the military voter’s preferred method of transmission, or if not preference by mail, not later than April 24, 2026. The Clerk of the Board must then receive the military voter’s military ballot by mail not later than 5:00pm on the day of the vote.   AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for early mail and absentee ballots may be applied for at the Office of the District Clerk. Applications may be accepted beginning April 20, 2026, through May 12, 2026, to receive the ballots by regular mail and no later than May 18, 2026, to pick up the ballots in person. Early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the office of the District Clerk not later than 5:00 pm on the date of the District Vote. A list of persons to whom early mail and absentee ballots are issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter of the District in the office of the District Clerk between the hours of 7:00 am and 3:30 pm on the five (5) days preceding the date of the election or at the polling place on the day of the election, except Saturday and Sunday.   NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, that said annual School District election will be conducted by the use of paper ballots: that the Board of Education has adopted Rules and Regulations relative to the submission of questions or propositions by the electors of said School District to be placed on the paper ballots, subject to the Education Law of the State of New York; copies of such Rules and Regulations may be obtained upon request from the Clerk of the School District.   NOTICE IS ALSO GIVEN, among other matters to be voted upon, such annual school election will vote upon the following proposition, to wit:   PROPOSITION NO. 1   BUDGET      Shall the 2026-2027 budget be approved?   PROPOSITION NO. 2 SCHOOL BUS      Shall the following proposition be approved:   RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the Friendship Central School District No. 1, Towns of Belfast, Cuba, Friendship and Wirt, County of Allegany, State of New York is hereby authorized to purchase one (1) Seventy-two passenger school bus at a maximum estimated cost of $220,000 (Two Hundred Twenty Thousand Dollars) and the sum of $220,000 or so much thereof as may be necessary, shall be raised by levy of a tax upon the taxable property of said School District and collected in annual installments as provided by Section 416 of the Education Law, and, in anticipation of such tax, obligations of the said School District may be issued.   BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION   CONSTANCE R. ADKINS DISTRICT CLERK March 31, April 5, 12, 19, 2026 #12182136