Voters in Monroe County, Ontario County and across western New York voters decide the fate of their local school district budgets on Tuesday, May 19, at a time when the exceedingly delayed New York state budget leaves the state of school district finances uncertain.
Voters also will choose Board of Education candidates in their districts candidates whom as school board members would help determine local school policies and spending priorities.
Looking for details before you vote Tuesday on your local school budget and your local Board of Education races in Monroe County, Ontario County and nearby? We’ve got you covered through district-specific story links below.
The Democrat and Chronicle will also provide voting results for school budgets and for school board races Tuesday evening on Wednesday on our live results page here. Look for those results in Thursday’s and Friday’s print newspaper as well.
What are details for my local school budget in Monroe County?
Democrat and Chronicle reporters wrote individual stories on local school budgets. Here are links to the stories containing these budget details for Monroe County school districts and polling hours and places: | Brighton | Brockport | Churchville-Chili | East Irondequoit | East Rochester | Fairport | Gates Chili | Greece | Hilton | Honeoye Falls-Lima | Penfield | Pittsford | Rush-Henrietta | Spencerport | Webster | West Irondequoit | Wheatland-Chili
What are details for my local school budget in Ontario or other nearby counties?
Democrat and Chronicle reporters wrote individual stories on local school budgets in Ontario County and elsewhere. Here are links to the stories containing these budget details and polling hours and places: | Bloomfield | Canandaigua | Geneseo | Honeoye | Livonia | Lyons | Manchester-Shortsville | Naples | Palmyra-Macedon | Phelps-Clifton Springs | Victor
What are details for my local school board candidates in Monroe County?
Democrat and Chronicle reporters wrote individual stories on local Board of Education candidates. Here are links to the stories containing these candidate details and polling hours and places for Monroe County school districts: | Brighton | Brockport | Churchville-Chili | East Irondequoit | East Rochester | Fairport | Gates Chili | Greece | Hilton | Honeoye Falls-Lima | Penfield | Pittsford | Rush-Henrietta | Spencerport | Webster | West Irondequoit | Wheatland-Chili
What are details for my local school board candidates in Ontario or other nearby counties?
Democrat and Chronicle reporters wrote individual stories on local Board of Education candidates in Ontario County and elsewhere. Here are links to the stories containing these candidate details and polling hours and places: | Bloomfield | Canandaigua | Geneseo | Honeoye | Livonia | Lyons | Manchester-Shortsville | Naples | Palmyra-Macedon | Phelps-Clifton Springs | Victor
When are the school vote polls open?
Local school districts determine their own polling hours and polling locations for May 19 school budget votes and for the same-day Board of Education races. Click on the appropriate link above to find the polling hours and polling places for your local school district.
Why does the late state budget matter to school budget voters?
The New York state budget approval deadline is April 1 each year. In 2026, however, Gov. Kathy Hochul and the Democratic-controlled state Assembly and state Senate have blown well past that deadline..
Now, nearly seven weeks later on May 19, school district residents statewide go to vote on local school budgets for which a good deal of uncertainty remains given the New York state budget is not finalized.
“New York state lawmakers are still split on several key state budget issues, leading them to pass a series of budget extensions that are raising concerns that school districts could face financial planning complications,” USA TODAY Network-New York Albany statehouse reporter Emily Barnes wrote recently.
Writes Barnes:
“Albany’s budget tardiness is also causing a trickle-down effect on other elements of state government, including how much school districts choose to allocate for their budgets, which then creates uncertainty for the taxpayers voting on those budgets.
“This means difficult conversations have been shouldered by school board leaders in recent weeks regarding whether they should take a risk and aim for higher budgets with the hope that the state aid is there to meet them once the state budget finally passes or play it safer, New York State School Boards Association chief advocacy officer Brian Fessler said.”
Specifically, state leaders decide on Foundation Aid, or the formula that determines how New York’s public schools receive funding. One question is whether that aid will rise a guaranteed minimum of 1 percent or some other level, such as 2 percent.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: 2026 school votes in Greater Rochester — budget and candidate details
Reporting by Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
