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Annual Vote

THANK YOU, VOTERS! Your Support Matters

2024 Annual Vote Results

MAY 21, 2024 — Voters in the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District (Midlakes schools) approved the 2024-2025 school budget along with several other propositions on this year’s ballot.

The $46,142,958 budget proposal was approved by a vote of 371-125 (74.8% approval). The budget calls for a 2.43% tax levy increase, which is below the District’s 4.73% limit for the upcoming year based on the state’s tax-cap formula and the current rate of inflation.

Other measures decided by voters:

TRANSPORTATION (SCHOOL BUS PURCHASE) APPROVED
(404-94 81% approval) 
To authorize the Board of Education to spend up to $1,073,880 for the purchase of six school buses and one utility vehicle to be paid from the Bus Purchase Reserve. (The state will reimburse the District 90% of the purchase.)

TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL RESERVE APPROVED
(362-136, 72.6% approval)
Authorize the Board of Education to establish a new Transportation Capital Reserve fund not to exceed $5 million to defray the cost of school buses and other vehicles, including electric school buses and vehicles, and related transportation infrastructure, construction/reconstruction and other improvements to be funded from year-end budget surplus funds, transfers of excess monies from Board of Education designated reserves, budgetary appropriations and available state aid.

BOARD OF EDUCATION (Pick three, elected members in bold)
1.  Matt Goodman: 357
2.  Tracy Altman: 348 
3.  Lynn Lebrecht: 311
4.  Adam Eldridge: 253

LIBRARY FUNDING APPROVED
(376-121, 75.6% approval)
A separate measure to approve $188,000 annually to be contributed to support the Clifton Springs Library in the amount of $94,000 and the Phelps Community Memorial Library in the amount of $94,000.​​ (This amount is separate from the District budget.)

Board of Education Finalizes Budget

During its April 15, 2024 meeting, the Board of Education adopted an approximately $46.1 million budget for the 2024-2025 school year that goes to a vote from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21, in the gymnasium of Midlakes Middle School, 1554 State Route 488.

The proposal calls for a tax levy increase of approximately 2.43%, which is below the District’s tax cap limit of 4.73% set by the state.

This year, voters will be asked to elect three candidates to the Board of Education, approve a proposition to purchase six buses and a suburban with funds from a Bus Purchase Reserve Fund, establish a Transportation Capital Reserve to fund future bus purchases and transportation-related infrastructure and approve a separate proposition to fund the community libraries. The District hosts the vote for the libraries, but the funding does not impact school property taxes.

Additional details on the Annual Vote can be found below. (Scroll to the end of this page for other budget documents and presentations.)

► SUPERINTENDENT'S MESSAGE: Budgeting for Student Success
► ANNUAL VOTE Q&A: Responses to commonly asked questions
► BOARD OF EDUCATION CANDIDATES: Four running for three seats
► BALLOT PROPOSITIONS: Items on the 2024 ballot
► MIDLAKES JOURNAL: Annual Vote Edition 
► MEETING VIDEOS: Review database of budget presentations (scroll to bottom of page for more.)

Budget Summary (2024-2025)

► BUDGET: $46,142,958
► TAX LEVY INCREASE: 2.43% over 2023-2024.
► STATE AID: $28,743,542 ($1,185,130 more than 2023-2024)
► RESERVE SPENDING: $740,000 ($90,425 more than 2023-2024)
► IN-PERSON VOTING: Noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday May 21, Middle School Gymnasium, 1554 State Route 488, Clifton Springs.

► ABSENTEE BALLOTS: Qualified voters of the District may obtain applications for an absentee ballot or an early voting ballot. Completed applications must be received by the  District Clerk no later than 4 p.m. on May 20, and must be received no later than 4 p.m. on May 14, if the absentee ballot or an early voting ballot is to be mailed to the voter.  Completed applications received after 4 p.m. on May 14, will require the voter to personally appear at the office of the Clerk of the District to receive an absentee ballot or an early voting ballot.  

A listing of all persons to whom an absentee ballot or an early voting ballot is issued will be available for inspection by any qualified voter in the office of the Clerk of the District between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. during each of the five business days prior to the election.

► MILITARY BALLOTS: May be requested from the District Clerk at (315) 548-6420 or pmann@midlakes.org. Completed applications for military ballots must be received by the Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on April 25, 2024.  In 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.

► BUDGET STATEMENT: A detailed budget statement may be obtained by any District resident from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. during weekdays, excluding holidays, during the fourteen days immediately preceding the Annual Vote.

► ELIGIBILITY: Residents qualify to participate in the annual vote, provided they are:

  • A U.S. Citizen
  • At least 18 years old
  • A resident of the District for at least 30 days prior to the vote

** No property requirement to vote.**

Budget Hearing

The Board of Education will hold a public budget hearing at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, in the Board of Education Room, in the Elementary Building. Please use entrance 1 for the Budget Hearing. The Budget Hearing is to be held for the purpose of discussing the expenditure of funds for the 2024-2025 school year and the budgeting thereof. The Regular Board of Education meeting to directly follow the Budget Hearing but will be held in the Midlakes Elementary School Cafeteria.

Propositions

Qualified voters of the the district will see five proposition on this year's ballot. A complete listing of the propositions may be found under "Ballot Propositions." In summary, this year's propositions include:

  • To approve the annual budget of the School District for the fiscal year 2024-2025 in the amount of $46,142,958. ​
  • To authorize the expenditure of up to $1,073,880 for the purchase of school buses, to be paid from the Bus Purchase Reserve.​
  • To create a 2024 Transportation Capital Reserve with a max allocation of $5 million for future bus purchases and transportation infrastructure including construction and reconstruction.​
  • A separate proposition shall be on the ballot for approval of $188,000 annually to be contributed to support the Clifton Springs Library in the amount of $94,000 and the Phelps Community Memorial Library in the amount of $94,000.​​
  • To elect three members of the Board of Education. 

Budget Development Calendar 

The development of the 2024-2025 budget will follow a process similar to recent years. Presentations on specific departments/areas will be presented to the Board in advance of the presentation of the overall budget for consideration by the Board. 

BOE Candidate Packets

Qualified voters of the district will have the opportunity to elect three (3) members to the Board of Education during the Annual School Vote from noon to 9 p.m. on May 21, 2024. Candidate Packets are now available for pick up and are DUE APRIL 22, 2024 at 5 p.m. for those interested in running for a seat on the Board of Education.

Please call District Clerk Pam Mann at (315) 548-6420 to arrange a time between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. when school is in session on or before Monday, April 22, 2024, to pick up a candidate packet in District Office, 1490 State Route 488, Clifton Springs, NY 14432.

Board of Education candidates must be:

  • 18 years of age or older
  • A citizen of the United States
  • A resident of the Phelps-Clifton Springs CSD for at least one year prior to the day of election (May 21, 2024)
  • Not adjudged to be an incompetent
  • Able to read and write
  • Not employed by the district in which he or she serves
  • Not residing with another member of the same school board as a member of the same family
  • Not hold another incompatible public office
  • A convicted felon may not run for a seat on a Board of Education while he or she is incarcerated for this felony.
  • A school board member does not have to be a taxpayer  
  • Individuals removed from any office of any school district within one year of the day of election may not be elected to a Board of Education

In addition, candidates must submit a Nominating Petition signed by at least 25 qualified voters of the district. A qualified voter is any individual who is a citizen of the United States, 18 years of age or older, a resident of the district for at least 30 days prior to the date of the election, and not disqualified to vote because of a violation the New York Election Law. 

Also, candidates are asked to submit a professional headshot and complete an online Candidate Questionnaire by Wednesday, April 24. This information should be completed AFTER a Nominating Petition is filed with the District Clerk. Candidate biographies and photos will be published in the Midlakes Journal and Midlakes.org.

The number of signatures obtained on the Nominating Petition must meet or exceed the required number of signatures. Please note that all signatures must be accompanied by a residence address (Street and Town) within the Phelps-Clifton Springs CSD. PO Box addresses will not be accepted. Signatures must be in ink and numbered consecutively. All signatures must be INDIVIDUALIZED, i.e., Jane Doe or John Doe (not Mrs. John Doe or Mr. and Mrs. John Doe).

All Nominating Petitions must be filed with the District Clerk by delivering them to the District Office, 1490 State Route 488, Clifton Springs, NY 14432, between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on or before Monday, April 22, 2024. Please contact the District Clerk Pam Mann at (315) 548-6420 with any questions.

Additional Resources