AMENIA — The town’s 2027 Preliminary Budget is set to move on to a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 5, beginning at 7 p.m. at the Town Hall.
At the public hearing, residents will be invited to comment on the proposed town budget that will take effect on the first day of the new fiscal year, Jan. 1, 2027. The date of the public hearing is established by law to be two days after the Tuesday, Nov. 3, election day.
The 2027 preliminary budget shows total appropriations of $3,769,844 for the General Fund and $1,577,643 for the Highway Fund, a total of $5,347,487, amounting to an increase in tax rate over 2026 of 23.31% for General Fund and a decrease of 0.34% for Highway Fund.
Once expected revenues are applied, the General Fund total is reduced to $2,349,125 and the Highway Fund to $891,491, for a total of $3,240,616 that will need to be raised by taxes, an increase of $403,315 over the current year. That’s a 14% increase in required tax revenue across those two funds.
Reviewing budget details during recent workshops, Town Supervisor Rosanna Hamm said that interest on bond financing is responsible for a significant portion of the increase. Bonding has been necessary for two major construction projects: the new Town Garage and Salt Shed and work on the Water Project, expected to be reimbursed by the release of grant funding.
“2028 should be better than 2027,” Hamm said about the expected amount of increase.
To view or print a copy of the preliminary budget visit www.ameniany.gov. Or, the budget can be emailed by requesting a copy from Town Clerk Dawn Klingner, dmklingner@ameniany.gov. A printed copy can also be obtained by visiting the Town Clerk’s office at the Town Hall.
