Q: What are the voter qualifications?
A: All voters must be United States citizens, age 18 or older on Election Day, residents of the Cairo-Durham Central School District for 30 days immediately prior to Election Day and registered to vote.

Q: How and where do you register to vote?
A: Voter registration is required. Voters can register to vote with the Greene County Board of Elections or with the district at the High School lobby from 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. on May 11, 2010. If you have voted in a school election in the past 4 years, then you are already registered to vote.

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Q: Can a voter submit an absentee ballot?
A: Registered voters may vote by absentee ballot if they are unable to appear at the polling place on May 18.
To receive an absentee ballot, voters must obtain an application from the District Clerk. The application will be available anytime after April 19, 2010. A person can pick up, download, or request a mailed copy of the Application for an Absentee Ballot at the Business Office on Main Street, Cairo, NY. At this time the application form can also be downloaded and printed from the Cairo-Durham website at www.cairodurham.org/content/budget.

Q: When do Board of Education candidates need to apply and how does this process work?
A: There are currently 4 Board of Education positions that will be filled. Board of Education members serve three year terms beginning 7/1/10. Candidates are required to have petitions filled with a minimum of 25 signatures from qualified voters.

Key dates for candidates:

Monday, March 8 Petitions Available
Monday, April 19 Petitions Due
Tuesday, May 4 Meet the Candidates Night
H.S. Media Center, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, May 18 Election for Board Seats

Q: Will there be any tax exemptions for residents?
A: Homeowners receive property tax exemptions under the School Tax Relief (STAR) program. The state reimburses schools for taxes that residents are exempted from paying under STAR. For more information on STAR, please visit www.orps.state.ny.us.
Property tax exemptions are also available for low income senior residents and for disabled residents. Call your town assessor or visit your town website if you have questions about STAR or other exemptions, about how income limits are calculated or wish to apply for a tax exemption.

Town Assessors: Cairo: 622-8545 Durham: 239-8362

Q. How did the 2010-2011 Governor’s Proposed Budget impact education?
A. The Governor proposed a $1,340,438 or 7.6 percent reduction in state aid to Cairo-Durham. This number is not final, and is subject to the state budget deliberations.

Q. How will the Federal Stimulus Plan Impact Cairo-Durham:
A. The first step is for the state to follow a prescribed application process regarding use of the funds. Once the application process is complete and approved, the state will distribute the funds. A portion of the federal stabilization money is expected to be utilized to eliminate the New York State deficit reduction to school districts. The state has yet to enact a budget and determine the amount of federal stimulus fund allocated to school districts.