NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING
NOTICE OF ANNUAL PUBLIC HEARING ON THE BUDGET,
ANNUAL MEETING, SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTION AND VOTE
PEARL RIVER UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT
TOWN OF ORANGETOWN, ROCKLAND COUNTY, NEW YORK
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Education of the Pearl River Union Free School District, Rockland County, New York, will hold a Public Hearing on the School District Budget at the District Administration Offices located at 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, New York, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026 at 7:00 P.M., prevailing time, for the purpose of presenting the budget document for the 2026-2027 School Year.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for School District purposes during the 2026-2027 school year (the Budget), exclusive of public monies, will be available to any resident of the District fourteen (14) days before the Annual Meeting between the hours of 10:00 A.M. and 2:00 P.M., prevailing time, at the Administrative Offices and each schoolhouse within the School District, except Saturday, Sunday or holidays. The budget shall also be available on the District website and at any public or free association library located within the District. A Real Property Tax Exemption Report prepared in accordance with Section 495 of the Real Property Tax Law will be annexed to any budget of which it will form a part and shall be posted on the District's website.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Annual Meeting, Election of Members of the Board of Education and Vote on the School District Budget will be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, at one election district hereinafter set forth, between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M., prevailing time, when the polls will be open for the purpose of voting, by voting machine:
A. To elect one (1) member to the Board of Education, for three-year terms commencing July 1, 2026 and expiring on June 30, 2029
B. To vote upon the appropriation of the necessary funds to meet the estimated expenditures and purposes for the 2026-2027 School Year (the Budget)
C. To vote on any proposition legally proposed
D. To vote on the following proposition:
BOND PROPOSITION
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Board of Education of Pearl River Union Free School District, in the County of Rockland, New York (the "District"), is hereby authorized to construct improvements and alterations to all school buildings and/or sites (the "Project"), substantially as described in a plan prepared by the District with the assistance of CSArch, Architects (the "Plan"), which is on file and available for public inspection in the office of the District Clerk, including (as and where required): improvements to the heating, ventilation, cooling, lighting and fire safety systems; roof, ceiling, door and skylight replacements; interior reconstruction and space reconfiguration; building access control enhancements and lockdown improvements; and athletic and recreational improvements, including field and bleacher replacements, drainage improvements, gymnasium and locker room upgrades, and playground enhancements; all of the foregoing to include the original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, interior reconstruction and reconfiguration, demolition, and ancillary or related site or other work required in connection therewith, and to expend therefor, including preliminary costs and costs incidental thereto and to the financing thereof, an amount not exceeding the aggregate estimated cost of $63,630,910, provided that the estimated costs of the components of the Project as set forth in detail in the Plan may be reallocated among such components if the Board of Education shall determine that such reallocation is in the best interests of the District;
(b) that the amount of not to exceed $2,200,000 from the District's "Buildings and Facilities Improvement Reserve Fund" established by the voters on May 16, 2023, is hereby authorized to be expended to pay for a portion of the cost of the Project, and such expenditure is hereby approved; and
(c) that a tax in the amount of not to exceed $61,430,910 is hereby authorized to pay the balance of the cost of the Project, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education, and that in anticipation of such tax, bonds of the District may be issued, and a tax is also hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable.
Such Bond Proposition shall appear on the ballots used for voting at said Annual District Meeting and Election in substantially the following condensed form:
BOND PROPOSITION
YES NO
RESOLVED:
(a) That the Board of Education of Pearl River Union Free School District, in the County of Rockland, New York (the "District"), is hereby authorized to construct improvements and alterations to all school buildings and/or sites, substantially as described in a plan prepared by the District with the assistance of CSArch, Architects, and to expend therefor an amount not to exceed the total estimated cost of $63,630,910; (b) that the amount of not to exceed $2,200,000 from the District's "Buildings and Facilities Improvement Reserve Fund" established by the voters on May 16, 2023, is hereby authorized to be expended to pay for a portion of said cost, and such expenditure is hereby approved; and (c) that a tax in the amount of not to exceed $61,430,910 is hereby authorized to pay the balance of the said cost, such tax to be levied and collected in installments in such years and in such amounts as shall be determined by said Board of Education, and that in anticipation of such tax, bonds of the District may be issued, and a tax is also hereby voted to pay the interest on said bonds as the same shall become due and payable
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that for the purposes of voting, the 2026 Annual Meeting, Election and Vote will be held at the following polling place: Pearl River High School – Pirate Cove – 275 East Central Avenue, Pearl River, NY 10965.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that petitions for nominating candidates for the office of member of the Board of Education must be filed with the Clerk of the District by no later than 5:00 P.M. on Monday, April 20, 2026 in the form and manner prescribed by §2018 of the Education Law. Nominating petitions must be signed by at least 35 qualified voters of the District, shall state the name and residence address of each signer and the name and residence address of the candidate. Petition forms may be obtained at the Office of the District Clerk on weekdays when school is in session, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that personal registration of voters is required pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law. Voter eligibility includes: being 18 years of age or older by May 19, 2026; being a U.S. citizen; and residence in the School District for a continuous 30 days immediately preceding the vote, and being registered to vote. If a voter has heretofore registered to vote with the School District and has voted at an annual or special school district meeting within the last four calendar years, they are eligible to vote at this election and vote. If an eligible voter is currently registered to vote with the Rockland County Board of Elections, they are also eligible to vote in this election and vote. All other persons who wish to vote must register with the District or the Rockland County Board of Elections. Any qualified voter may register to vote for the Annual School District Election and Vote to be held on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 during regular business hours, from 10:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., on school days at the District Clerk's Office, 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, New York until May 14, 2026, if they are known or proven to the satisfaction of the District Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Register of voters so prepared, including the names of military voters who have submitted valid applications to register to vote, shall be filed in the Office of the District Clerk located at the Administrative Offices of the Pearl River Union Free School District, 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, NY, where the same shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, on the five days prior to the Election and Vote, except Sunday. Said Register will be open for inspection at the polling place on the date of the Election and Vote.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that applications for early mail ballots and applications for absentee ballots for the School District Election and Vote may be obtained at the Office of the School District Clerk, 135 West Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, NY. The application for early mail ballot or absentee ballot must be received by the District Clerk no more than thirty (30) days and at least seven (7) days prior to the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter or the day before the election, if the ballot will be picked up personally by the voter or the voter's designated agent set forth in the application, at the Office of the School District Clerk. Early mail ballots and absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk by no later than 5:00 PM, prevailing time, on May 19, 2026.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that separate lists of all persons to whom early mail ballots and absentee ballots shall have been issued, and a list of all military voters to whom military ballots shall have been issued, will be available for inspection to qualified voters of the District in the said office of the District Clerk during regular office hours, 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., prevailing time, until the day of the Election and Vote. Any qualified voter may file a written challenge of the qualifications of a voter, whose name appears on such list, stating the reasons for the challenge.
NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that Military Voters may apply to register to vote and/or apply for a military ballot from the District Clerk at 135 Crooked Hill Road, Pearl River, NY; Telephone: (845) 620-3928; or email: ammerr@pearlriver.org, by no later than 5:00 P.M. on April 23, 2026. The Military Voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application and military ballot by mail, by facsimile or email. Military ballots will be mailed or otherwise distributed no later than 25 days before the election. Military ballots must be returned by mail or in person and received by the District Clerk by 5:00 P.M. on election day, May 19, 2026.
By Order of the Board of Education
Of the Pearl River Union Free School District,
Town of Orangetown, Rockland County, NY
Dated: March 24, 2026
Rachel Ammer
District Clerk
April 3, 17, May 1, 15 2026
LNYS0479642