2027 Preliminary Budget Update & Upcoming Public Hearing
The Town Board recently held our third 2027 budget workshop, continuing our line-by-line evaluation to rein in expenses while protecting essential town services. Through these extended workshop sessions, we made substantial reductions from our starting figures, officially establishing a Preliminary Budget tax levy of $2,557,906.63. For comparison, our 2026 tax levy was $2,385,889, meaning the preliminary levy reflects an increase of 7.21% ($172,017.63) over last year. While our state-calculated tax cap limit for 2027 is $2,479,027, our ongoing cuts have brought the proposed levy down to just 3.18% ($78,879.63) over the cap, helping mitigate the impact of sharp regional cost increases in electricity, heating fuel, and insurance.
Copies of the Preliminary Budget are available for review online on our town website and in hard copy at the Town Clerk’s office. Additionally, a full video recording of this third budget workshop can be viewed on our Meeting Minutes webpage. The Town Board will host a formal Public Hearing on the 2027 Preliminary Budget on Thursday, November 5th at 7:00 PM at the Jay Community Center. We encourage all community members to look over the budget details, attend the hearing, and share their input as we move toward final adoption.
Senior Fitness Program & 2027 Community Survey
Our Senior Fitness program with Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) continues to meet at the Community Center on Monday and Wednesday mornings from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM. As CCE looks ahead and plan programming for 2027, they are seeking community feedback through a quick survey to discover what types of fitness and wellness classes local residents are interested in attending. Several six to eight week course options are being considered, and high-demand topics could be incorporated into our current Monday and Wednesday morning time slots as revolving classes. Please take a few minutes to share your thoughts by completing the survey online at https://forms.gle/HmU7ch5DzdSApbcL6. Regular participants should also note that a few sessions will be paused throughout November and December for holidays and vacations, with updated monthly calendars shared directly with class attendees at the center.
2026-2027 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Opens Monday
With cold weather arriving and heating costs continuing to rise across our region, the 2026-2027 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) officially opens for regular heating benefits this coming Monday, November 2nd. HEAP provides vital grant assistance to help eligible homeowners and renters keep their homes warm through the winter, with regular heating base grants providing up to $990 for oil, kerosene, and propane, $700 for wood, pellets, or coal, and $400 for natural gas or electric utility heat. Additional add-ons are available for qualifying Tier I households ($61) and homes with vulnerable family members such as seniors aged 60 and older, children under six, or individuals with disabilities ($35). Funding is also accessible for heating equipment tune-ups up to $500, emergency repairs up to $4,000, and full system replacements up to $8,000.
Eligibility is determined by household size, with maximum gross monthly income thresholds set at $3,563 for an individual, $4,659 for a household of two, $5,756 for three people, and $6,852 for a four-person family. When preparing your application, you will need to provide standard verification materials, including proof of residency, validated Social Security numbers for household members, proof of gross income covering the past four weeks, identification, and a recent fuel or utility bill establishing your vendor account. Applications can be completed online at mybenefits.ny.gov or submitted directly through the Essex County Department of Social Services by calling 518-873-3441.
Congratulations to the AVCS Girls Soccer Champions!
A huge congratulations goes out to the AuSable Valley Central School Girls Soccer team on capturing the Section VII Class B Championship title! Your hard work, grit, and teamwork throughout the season have made our entire community proud. Best of luck to the players and coaching staff as you advance to regional play, and keep up the fantastic momentum representing the Patriots!
Happy Halloween and have a great weekend,
Matt
