The Peru Gazette

The Peru Town Board will present its Preliminary 2024 Town Budget to the public on Wednesday, November 1, at a 6 p.m. public hearing. By anticipating $60,000 in sales tax revenue and making some budget cuts, The town board projects staying under the state-mandated 2% tax cap but only by $21,661 in an almost $3.9 million budget.

A huge projected Blue Cross Blue Shield rate increase ranging from 26% to 29.5% will impact town employees; the board plans to switch to the MVP insurance plan.

The budget includes 5% wage increases for full and part-time employees except for seasonal employees. Supervisor Brandy McDonald said the wage increases are needed to retain staff, stating that the water/sewer and highway departments lost employees who took higher-paying positions with Clinton County and the City of Plattsburgh.