Budget & Taxpayer Information

Important update on budget/school board election voting ballots

Please view a letter from the superintendent on June 9 voting ballots

Absentee ballot counting process and voter confidentiality

We are writing to reassure voters of the confidential nature of the voting process that the School District will be following this year as the result of an Executive Order of Governor Andrew Cuomo (No. 202.26) issued in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Questions have arisen regarding the collection and counting procedure that the School District will be utilizing on the date of the budget vote and election, June 9, 2020. On or before 5 p.m. on that date, qualified voters in the School District are to return their completed ballots. Those ballots will have been placed by the voter in a signed ballot envelope that has been placed in a return mailing envelope. Return mailing envelopes will be opened by the District Clerk and the sealed ballot envelope will be examined to ensure that it has been signed by the voter, as required by law.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on the day of the budget vote and election, ballots will be withdrawn from their signed ballot envelopes and placed, still folded, into a secure receptacle separate from the signed ballot envelopes. In this way, it will not be possible for ballots to be linked to or associated with the envelopes in which they were returned. After all of the ballots have been separated from their envelopes, election inspectors will remove the anonymous ballots from the secure receptacle and the counting process will begin. The counting process will be livestreamed on the GASD YOUTUBE Channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCotXzDFlyr8aWHCiOQ86g. The School District takes your privacy very seriously and, by utilizing the system outlined above, we are confident that your vote will remain secure, confidential, and anonymous. Please do not hesitate to contact the District Clerk, Lorrie Schell, by email at districtclerk@gasd.org or by phone at 518-843-3180 ext. 7801 should you have any questions or concerns.

2020-21 District Budget Development

The Greater Amsterdam Board of Education adopted a $75.9 million proposed budget for the 2020-21 school year on May 19. The school board held a public hearing on the proposed budget on May 26. Access the link below to watch the budget hearing recorded on YouTube:

All school district residents will also receive a budget newsletter in the mail in early June. A downloadable version may be accessed below.

Click Here to view the newsletter in English and Spanish

Click Here for a sample voting ballot.This ballot cannot be used to vote with, only to view online.

Public Voting on the District Budget

Gov. Cuomo has signed an executive order setting the school budget vote and school board election vote day statewide to June 9, 2020. There will be no in-person voting. All voting will be done by mail-in ballot. Ballots have been mailed to voter’s homes with a postage paid return envelop. All votes must be received to the District Clerk no later than 5 p.m. on June 9 to be valid. Watch the video below to learn the process for completing the paper ballot and delivering it to the district for processing.

If you have no way to get to a drop box to submit your voting ballot, a ballot pickup service is being offered on Tuesday, June 9 only. Please call on Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and a bilingual operator will take your information and send a secured and confidential ballot lock box to your location. Call 518-843-3186.

Embedded video of How to: Vote on 2020-21 School Budgets & Board Candidates (With Ballot Box)

How and where to drop off your voting ballot instead of mailing it. Where are the ballot drop off locations?

First complete your ballot by carefully following the instructions. Then, place the ballot in the accompanying envelope, seal and sign the ballot envelope, and drop it off in person at one of our outdoor 24-hour locked ballot box locations: Barkley, Curie, McNulty, Tecler, Lynch, Amsterdam High School, or the District Office entrance. You may also bring your ballot in person to one of the Tecler, Lynch, or AHS meal pickup sites on Friday, June 5, or Monday, June 8 from 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sorry ballots cannot be accepted at the bus meal drop off locations.

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What if I Did Not Receive a Voting Ballot?

If you are a qualified voter and don’t receive an election ballot in June, please contact the District Clerk at districtclerk@gasd.org and one will be sent to you.

2020 Board of Education Election

Five people have submitted petitions to run for three seats open July 1, 2020 on the Amsterdam Board of Education. Due to COVID-19 and Gov. Cuomo’s executive order, no petition signatures were required to run in 2020 and candidates could self-nominate themselves to appear on the election ballot. Each seat new carries a three-year term. Like the budget, this year’s election will be held on June 9, 2020 by mail-in ballot only. Ballots are being mailed to qualified voters homes and must be returned no later than 5 p.m. on June 9th. If you are a qualified voter and don’t receive an election ballot in June, please contact District Clerk at districtclerk@gasd.org. 2020 candidates are incumbent board members Dr. Nellie Bush, Rev. Kent McHeard, Deana Mancini, and newcomers Thomas J. Coughlin, Jr. and James P. Walrath. The three candidates receiving the highest vote totals will be elected to the Board of Education.

2020-21 Budget Documents

The Audit Committee & Financial Statements

School district finances are subject to internal and external auditing, which promote both accountability and transparency. The Greater Amsterdam School District Audit Committee, which is comprised of Board members and community members, is charged with providing independent advice and recommendations to the board.

Each year, in accordance with New York State regulations, an independent auditor conducts a review of the districts’ financial statements. After the audit is completed, it is reviewed by the Audit Committee and accepted by the Board. This typically takes place in the fall. View the most recent audited financial statements.

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