Skip To Main Content

Annual Vote

THANK YOU, VOTERS! Your Support Matters

2025 Annual Vote Results

MAY 20, 2025 — Voters in the Phelps-Clifton Springs Central School District (Midlakes schools) approved the 2025-2026 school budget along with several other propositions on this year’s ballot.

The $ 47,386,760 budget proposal was approved by a vote of (409-123, 76.9% approval). The budget calls for a 2.00% tax levy increase, which is below the District’s 5.15% 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
(425-110, 79.4% approval) 
To authorize the Board of Education to spend up to $888,237 for the purchase of four 70-passenger diesel school buses, one 30-passenger diesel school bus and one sport utility vehicle to be paid from the Bus Purchase Reserve and the Transportation Capital Reserve. (The state will reimburse the District 90% of the purchase.)

BOARD OF EDUCATION (Picking two; elected members in bold)
Jackie (Gallahan) Blake: 309
Nicholas Hargarther: 250
Lindsay Marino: 215
Amanda Frost: 209

LIBRARY FUNDING APPROVED
(412-122, 77.1% approval)
A separate measure to approve $194,000 annually to be contributed to support the Clifton Springs Library in the amount of $97,000 and the Phelps Community Memorial Library in the amount of $97,000.​​ (This amount is separate from the District budget.)

Board of Education Finalizes Budget

During its April 23, 2025 meeting, the Board of Education adopted an approximately $47.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year that goes to a vote from noon to 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20 in the Old Middle School Library, 1554 State Route 488.

The proposal calls for a tax levy increase of approximately 2.00%, which is below the District’s tax cap limit of 5.15% set by the state.

This year, voters will be asked to elect two candidates to the Board of Education, approve a proposition to purchase four 70-passenger diesel school buses, one 30-passenger diesel bus and a sport utility vehicle with funds from a Bus Purchase Reserve Fund and the Transportation Capital Reserve, 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 two seats
► BALLOT PROPOSITIONS: Items on the 2025 ballot
► MIDLAKES JOURNAL: Annual Vote Edition 
► MEETING VIDEOS: Review database of budget presentations (scroll to bottom of page for more.)

Budget Summary (2025-2026)

► BUDGET: $47,386,760
► TAX LEVY INCREASE: 2.00% over 2024-2025.
► STATE AID: $29,157,895 ($414,353 more than 2024-2025)
► RESERVE SPENDING: $808,237 ($69,787 more than 2024-2025)
► IN-PERSON VOTING: Noon to 9 p.m., Tuesday May 20, Old Middle School Library, 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 19, and must be received no later than 4 p.m. on May 13, 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 13, 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) 548-6423 or pmann@midlakes.org. Completed applications for military ballots must be received by the Clerk no later than 4 p.m. on April 25, 2025.  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 Monday, May 12, 2025, in the Midlakes Middle School Cafeteria. The Budget Hearing is to be held for the purpose of discussing the expenditure of funds for the 2025-2026 school year and the budgeting thereof. The Regular Board of Education meeting will directly follow the Budget Hearing.

Propositions

Qualified voters of the the district will see four 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 proposed 2025-2026 school budget, and to authorize the requisite portion therefore to be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the District.
  • To authorize the expenditure of $888,237 for four 70-passenger diesel school buses, one 30-passenger diesel bus, and one sport utility vehicle, to be paid from the Bus Purchase Reserve.​
  • 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 two members of the Board of Education. 

Budget Development Calendar 

The development of the 2025-2026 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 two (2) members to full three (3) year terms on the Board of Education during the Annual School Vote from noon to 9 p.m. on May 20, 2025. Candidate Packets are now available for pick up and are DUE APRIL 21, 2025 at 4 p.m. for those interested in running for a seat on the Board of Education.

Please call District Clerk Pam Mann at (315) 548-6423 to arrange a time between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. when school is in session on or before Monday, April 21, 2025, 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 20, 2025)
  • 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 Tuesday, April 22. 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 4 p.m. on or before Monday, April 21, 2025. Please contact the District Clerk Pam Mann at (315) 548-6423 with any questions.

 

Additional Resources