As expected, the Pelham Board of Education voted Wednesday to put a $80.3 million budget that raises taxes 2.47% before voters on May 18, according to a press release from the Pelham Union Free School District.

The tax increase complies with the state cap of a 3.9% rise. Spending grows 4.67% in the proposed 2021-22 budget over the current year’s spending plan.

Voting on the budget and for two school board seats will take place in the Pelham Middle School gym from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on May 18. The district provided the following documents:

• View proposed budget presentation slides
• Access full proposed budget

Five people are running for the two trustee seats, each carrying a three-year term:

• Incumbent Eileen Miller
• Incumbent Jess Young
• Michael Owen-Michaane
• Ian Rowe
• Janice Powers

“I want to thank the board for adopting the 2021-22 budget, which was carefully crafted over the past several months,” said Dr. Cheryl H. Champ, superintendent of schools, in the release. “Each year, our goal is to develop a budget that meets the needs of our students, delivers the rich and challenging academic program that our community expects and deserves, and does so in a way that is mindful of the tax burden borne by our residents. Importantly, this budget includes the largest chunk of borrowing associated with the 2018 capital improvement bond, which is already bearing fruit for our community.”

The district provided the following information on voting in the school district election:

To be eligible to vote in the election voters must:

• Be 18 years of age or older on the day of the vote. Those who will turn 18 on or before May 18 can register to vote and then be eligible to cast a vote on May 18.
• Be a United States citizen.
• Be a resident of the Pelham Union Free School District.
• Have lived in the district for at least 30 days prior to the day of the vote.
• Not be in jail or on parole for a felony conviction.
• Not claim the right to vote elsewhere.
• Be registered to vote with either the county board of elections or with the school district board of registration.

(You are registered if you are on the Westchester County voters’ list and voted at least once during the last four years or you have personally registered with the district.)

If you are not registered, you can register in person with the school district board of registration on the following dates in the district office at 18 Franklin Place:

• April 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• May 3 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

A qualified voter may also register to vote in the election by registering to vote with the Westchester County Board of Elections, 148 Martine Ave., White Plains, New York, 10601, or by calling 914-995-2000, or by visiting their website. You may also register through the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles website.

Please call Pauline Davies, district clerk, at 914-738-3434, x-1155 if you have any questions.

Absentee Ballots

If a registered voter will not be able to get to the polls on May 18 for one or more of the following reasons, absentee ballots are available:

• Absence from country on election day.
• Temporary illness or physical disability. (Note: concern about contracting Covid-19 is included in this reason.)
• Permanent illness of physical disability.
• Duties related to primary care of one or more individuals who are ill or physically disabled.
• Resident or patient of Veterans Health Administration Hospital.
• Detention in jail/prison, awaiting trial, awaiting action by a grand jury, or in prison for conviction of a crime or offense which was not a felony.

To vote by absentee ballot:

• Fill out a school district absentee ballot application and return it to the district.
• Upon receipt of an absentee ballot, fill out the ballot.
• Return the completed absentee ballot to the district.