What am I voting on?
A budget of $42,007,435 for the 2025-26 school year, a proposition to purchase school buses and election of one candidate to the Board of Education.

When and where is the vote?
Tuesday, May 20, 2025 from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Holland Patent High School Gymnasium.

Who is eligible to vote?
Anyone who is a U.S. Citizen, 18 years or older and a resident within the district for a period of 30 days prior to the vote. A resident is not eligible to vote if they are prohibited from voting under the provisions of Section 5-06 of the Education Law.

How can I vote by absentee ballot?
Applications for absentee ballots for the 2025 school budget vote and BOE election will be available beginning Tuesday, April 22, 2025, and may be picked up from the Office of the District Clerk at Holland Patent Central School District, 9601 Main Street, Holland Patent, NY 13354; or requested to be mailed by calling 315.865.7221. For voters requesting to have a ballot delivered to them by mail, completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than Tuesday, May 13, 2025. For voters requesting to have a ballot delivered to them personally, completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no later than Monday, May 19, 2025. All completed absentee ballots must be received by the District Clerk’s Office no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

What about military voters?
Military voters who are qualified voters of the District may apply for a military ballot by requesting an application from the District Clerk at 315.865.7221 or vmarris@hpschools.org. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, the District Clerk must have received a valid ballot application by no later than 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 24, 2025. On a request for a military ballot application or ballot, the military voter may indicate their preference for receiving the application or ballot by mail, facsimile transmission or electronic mail.

In 2011, New York State implemented a tax cap, which limits the amount of property tax revenue that a school district can raise each year. The tax cap is calculated based on a formula that takes into account the district’s property values, the rate of inflation and certain exemptions. The purpose of the tax cap is to help control property
taxes and prevent them from increasing too rapidly.

On the other hand, the tax levy is the total amount of money a school district raises through property taxes to fund its budget. The tax levy is determined by the district’s financial needs such as salaries, benefits, programs and facilities. The tax levy can also be impacted by other factors such as state aid, enrollment changes and the need
for capital improvements.

So, how does the tax cap and tax levy affect you as a taxpayer? If a district proposes a tax levy increase that is below the tax cap, then the budget can be passed with a simple majority vote. However, if the proposed tax levy increase is above the tax cap, then the budget requires a supermajority vote of 60% or more to pass.

It is important to note that the tax cap does not limit your individual property tax bill; rather, it limits the total amount of property tax revenue that the school district can raise. Your individual tax bill can still increase more than 2% even if the tax levy increase is below the tax cap, because the school budget is not the only factor impacting your tax bill. Individual tax bills are also determined by the assessed value of your property, which can change from year to year. The Holland Patent Central School District encompasses multiple towns, all with different formulas for assessing properties.

We hope this information helps clarify some common questions
regarding property tax bills and school budgets.

In New York State, school budgets are legally required to be divided into three components: Administrative, Capital, and Program. This three-part budget format, also known as a "plain language budget" or "tripartite budget," aims to increase transparency and clarity for the public.

Here's a breakdown of each component:

• Administrative Component - This part covers expenses related to school district administration, including school board expenses, salaries and benefits of administrative staff, data processing, public information, legal fees, property insurance, and other administrative costs.
• Capital Component - This component includes costs related to major assets and infrastructure, such as school bus purchases, debt service on buildings, leasing costs, tax certiorari and court-ordered costs, and facility costs.
• Program Component - This section outlines the costs of the district's educational programs, including salaries and benefits of teachers and supervisors who spend the majority of their time teaching, instructional costs (supplies, equipment, textbooks), and transportation operating costs (excluding bus purchases). 

By dividing the budget in this way, school districts are required to present a clear and understandable plan to the public, explaining how their tax dollars will be used. The public then votes on the overall budget, but they can also see how it's broken down into these three core area.