The results of the 2026 Ithaca City School District (ICSD) Budget Vote and School Board Election listed below have been certified and adopted by the ICSD Board of Education.
Proposition No. 1: Proposed 2026-2027 Annual District Budget
YES Votes: 2,666
NO Votes: 882
Passed with 75.14%
Proposition No. 2: Appropriation and Expenditure of Capital Reserve Funds
YES Votes: 2,683
NO Votes: 825
Passed with 76.48%
Proposition No. 3: Establishment of a New Capital Reserve Fund
YES Votes: 2,754
NO Votes: 749
Passed with 78.62%
Proposition No. 4: 2026 Capital Project
YES Votes: 2,640
NO Votes: 860
Passed with 75.43%
School Board Election
Sara Garner, Jill K. Tripp, and Garrick Blalock have each been elected to a three-year at-large term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
Madeline Cardona: 1,244 votes
Sara Garner: 2,925 votes
Garrick Blalock: 1,946 votes
Jill K. Tripp: 2,739 votes
April 14 | 2026-27 Budget and Property Tax Report Card Adoption |
|---|---|
April 29 | School Board Candidate Nominating Petitions Due |
May 5 | Voter Registration Deadline |
May 12 | Public Budget Hearing, 5:30 p.m. |
May 19 | BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION |
May 20 | Certification of Results |
If you have any questions about the 2026 Budget Vote and School Board Election, please contact District Clerk Emilee Tracy-Arm at (607) 274-2102 or boeclerk@icsd.k12.ny.us. You can also send us a message on Let's Talk.
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a citizen of the United States;
18 years of age or older;
a resident within the district for 30 days immediately preceding May 19, 2026; and
not otherwise prohibited from voting under Election Law.
The voter registration deadline has passed.
If a qualified voter has previously registered with the district or with the county board of elections and has voted within the last four (4) calendar years, they are eligible to vote in the May 19, 2026 Annual Budget Vote and School Board Election without re-registering.
All others who wish to vote in the Annual District Meeting and Election must either pre-register with the district as set forth below or be registered with the Tompkins County or Tioga County board of elections to vote in general elections.
The district has authorized continuous registration of qualified voters in the Office of the District Clerk, 400 Lake Street, Ithaca, New York, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, through May 5, 2026.
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Application deadlines:
If you want your ballot mailed to you, your application must be received by the district clerk by 5 p.m. on May 12, 2026.
If you plan to pick up your ballot in person, you may submit your application in person through May 18, 2026 (the day before the election).
Mail or drop off applications to:
ICSD Board Clerk
400 Lake Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Once you receive your early mail ballot, it must be returned to the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Election Day (May 19, 2026) in order to be counted.
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Application deadlines:
If you want your ballot mailed to you, your application must be received by the district clerk by 5 p.m. on May 12, 2026.
If you plan to pick up your ballot in person, you may submit your application in person through May 18, 2026 (the day before the election).
Mail or drop off applications to:
ICSD Board Clerk
400 Lake Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
Once you receive your early mail ballot, it must be returned to the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Election Day (May 19, 2026) in order to be counted.
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"},"hasForm":false,"component":"ts-text","properties":{"anchorTag":"","customClasses":[]}},{"id":"a4879393-8139-4cdf-9392-738e072e0861","name":"Button","config":{"button":{"pill":true,"size":"regular","type":"regular","style":"1","theme":"outline","buttons":[{"link":"https://youtu.be/gpDPWgzYUrs","title":"View the Recording","mailto":false,"open_link_in_new_tab":true}],"alignment":"left","has_icons":false},"blockId":"a4879393-8139-4cdf-9392-738e072e0861"},"hasForm":true,"component":"ts-button","properties":{"anchorTag":"","customClasses":[]}}],"properties":{"anchorTag":"","customClasses":[]},"panelExpanded":true},{"id":"10849c30-331c-4a4b-b157-5b0bed7a7b18","text":"Propositions on the Ballot","content":[{"id":"68961f0c-fa72-4881-9ff5-41d559242b54","name":"Text","config":{"blockId":"68961f0c-fa72-4881-9ff5-41d559242b54","content":"Proposition No. 1 Proposed 2026-27 Budget
Shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District, City of Ithaca, Tompkins County, New York, be authorized to expend $177,638,041 to meet the District's estimated expenditures during the 2026-2027 school year, and to levy the necessary tax therefor?
Proposition No. 2 Appropriation and Expenditure of Capital Reserve Funds
Shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District (the “District”) be authorized to appropriate funds from the District's “2022 Capital Reserve Fund” in the maximum amount of $2,346,308 and to expend these combined funds for the following purposes: 1) Purchase of up to seven (7) 70 passenger ultra-low emission propane buses for long range travel; and 2) Purchase of up to one (1) 30 passenger ultra-low emission propane buses for long range travel; 3) purchase of up to two (2) wheelchair equipped 66 passenger ultra-low emission propane buses for long range travel; 4) Interior/exterior renovations at Cayuga Heights Elementary School, to include structural and door repairs?
Proposition No. 3 Establishment of a New Capital Reserve Fund
Shall the Board of Education of the Ithaca City School District (the “District”) be authorized to establish a reserve fund in accordance with Section 3651 of the New York Education Law, to be known as the “2026 Capital Reserve Fund,” for a probable term of five (5) years, commencing on July 1, 2026 and ending on June 30, 2031, for the purpose of financing, in whole or in part, the purchase of school buses and other vehicles and/or the cost of authorized alterations, construction and/or reconstruction of District facilities, buildings and/or additions, including related site work, health and safety improvements, and handicap accessibility improvements, and to fund this 2026 Capital Reserve Fund in the maximum amount of $10,000,000, excluding interest earnings, in the current or future years through various sources including, but not limited to, state aid reimbursement, cost saving measures resulting in unexpended funds or unappropriated fund balance and other legally available funds of the District?
Proposition No. 4 2026 Capital Project
Shall the bond resolution adopted by the Board of Education on March 10, 2026, authorizing the construction of improvements to and reconstruction of various School District buildings and facilities, including site improvements, transportation infrastructure upgrades and original furnishings, equipment, machinery, apparatus, appurtenances, and the incidental improvements and expenses in connection therewith, at a maximum estimated cost of $43,900,000, and the issuance of $43,900,000 bonds of said School District to pay the cost thereof, to mature over a period not exceeding 30 years, providing that such bonds shall be payable from amounts to be levied in annual installments on taxable real property of said School District; pledging the District’s faith and credit for the payment of such bonds; delegating powers to the chief fiscal officer with respect to the issuance and sale of bond anticipation notes and such bonds, containing an estoppel clause and providing for the publication of an estoppel notice, be approved?
Three members will be elected to the ICSD Board of Education, each for an at-large full three-year term from July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029.
The candidates for three open seats on the school board are (in order of position on the ballot):
Madeline Cardona
Sara Garner
Garrick Blalock
Jill K. Tripp
The deadline to submit nominating petitions has passed.
Those seeking to run for the ICSD Board of Education must file a nominating petition with the district clerk by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, in order for their names to be placed on the ballot. A separate petition shall be required to nominate each candidate. Each petition shall be signed by at least 100 qualified voters of the district and shall state the name and residence of the candidate and each signer.
The 2026 Nominating Petition can be found in the Board of Education Candidate Packet (packets may also be picked up at the District Office). Petitions must be received by the district clerk no later than 5 p.m. on April 29, 2026.
District Clerk
Ithaca City School District
400 Lake Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
In addition to filing a nominating petition, school board candidates must meet all other eligibility requirements, including applicable residency and age, and file a Campaign Expenditure and Contribution Statement at least three times.
Please download the Board of Education Candidate Packet (or pick one up at the District Office) for more information.
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Board of Education Candidate Packet
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