Budget Vote & Election
On Tuesday, May 20, Hammond Central School District residents will vote on the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year. You can find more information about the proposed budget on this webpage.
2025-26 Budget Information
Don’t forget to vote! Polls will be open on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, from 1:30 to 8 p.m., in the cafeteria of the Hammond Central School, 51 S. Main St, Hammond.
The proposed budget of $10,267,964 has been developed to support the district’s mission to build each student's self-esteem, love for learning, self-reliance, and academic, physical, and artistic skills. The district will strive to achieve this through curriculum enhancements such as increased advanced courses as well as new electives at the 7-12 grade levels and Science of Reading instruction in grades UPK-8.
This is an increase of $490,011 or 5.01% over the current year’s budget, which will result in a 3.65% increase in the tax levy. Because the proposal is within the district’s tax levy limit, a simple majority of voters would need to approve the budget for it to pass.
A community budget newsletter will be mailed in May.
Voters to Elect One Board of Education Member
There will be one open Board of Education seat on the ballot. The seat carries a 5-year term. With schoolchildren always their ultimate focus, school board members act officially at the board table, working with other board members to serve students and create a shared vision for the future of education.
Also on the Ballot....
- Transportation Proposition: The district is proposing the purchase of one 60-passenger diesel-powered school bus for $185,000, one passenger vehicle to not exceed $90,000, and a truck with a plow not to exceed $75,000. They total $350,000.
- Library Proposition: Residents will be asked to vote on a proposition to levy and collect $15,000 for the Hammond Free Library. New York state education law allows community libraries to place a funding proposition on school district ballots and requires school districts, at the libraries’ request, to levy and collect taxes. Libraries are separate legal entities from the district, with their own funding and budgets.
Voter Information
To be eligible to vote, residents must live in the school district for at least 30 days prior to the May 20 election, be at least 18 years of age and be a citizen of the United States. Residents may register to vote prior to voting on May 20 in the Hammond Central School building.The district will provide mail-in and absentee ballots if requested by any qualified voter, and will provide absentee ballots for those previously identified on the county list. The New York Early Mail Voter Act allows registered voters to request a mail-in ballot. You can request an early voter ballot in person up to the day of the election.
STAR Program
Homeowners who meet certain eligibility requirements through the New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR) can have a portion of their home’s assessed value exempt from school property taxes. Learn more about the STAR program here.
Early Mail Ballot
Eligibility: Residents who are qualified voters of the School District are eligible to apply for an Early Mail Ballot.
Application Process: Applications for early mail ballots must be made at the Office of the District Clerk. This Early Mail Ballot Application can be filled out and sent to the District Clerk Natasha Baxter [email protected] to initiate the process.
Deadline: The application for an early mail ballot must be received by the District Clerk Natasha Baxter at least seven (7) days before the election if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter.
Availability of Ballot Issuance List: A list of all persons to whom early mail ballots have been issued will be available in the Office of the Clerk on each of the five days prior to the day of elections, except Saturday, Sunday, or holidays.