The Peru Gazette

Residents utilizing water and sewer services will see a slight decrease. Corrected 11/15/25 at 3:10 p.m. My first post did not take the water & sewer rate deceases into account. Taxes will increase for residents outside those districts. 

By John T Ryan 

Peru – The Peru town board has been formulating the town’s 2026 town budget since September 8. On October 2, it conducted a Special Meeting to unveil the preliminary Budget, and on October 5, it conducted a Public Hearing. On Wednesday, November 19, at 5:30 p.m., it will conduct a Special Meeting to adopt the Final Budget. 

Over the past several months, Supervisor Craig Randall stated that the 2026 budget would probably exceed the 2% state-imposed tax cap; he was correct. Noting that the board will probably make a few changes in the final Budget, Randall didn’t think the Final Budget would be under the tax cap.  While it doesn’t appear the budget will exceed the tax cap by much, Randall did not give the Peru Gazette the exact numbers. The exact amount should be available at the board’s November 19 Special Meeting. 

Preliminary Budget Tax Rates 2026 vs, 2025 per thousand dollars of taxable value 

General – $1.72/M vs. $1.43

Highway – $1.80 vs. $1.73

Water – $.86 vs. $1.03

Sewer – – $1.54 vs. 1.97

Increases in employee health insurance costs, NYS retirement expenses, and culvert replacement expenses drive the town’s increased expenditures. Facing about 18% increase in health insurance costs, the town is changing its employee health insurance plans; nevertheless, the board has budgeted $25,817 to cover the increased costs. 

The town installed several culverts following the 1998 flood. Unfortunately, the culverts are failing in rapid succession, meaning expense increases are likely to continue. The culvert replacement contracts are expensive, typically totaling several hundred thousand dollars.

Few, if any, of the expenses incurred at the ongoing Wastewater Treatment Plant Project are included in the 2026 budget. Those expenses will impact the 2027 budget, as well as work anticipated at the water treatment plant. 

Randall reduced anticipated Clinton County Sales Tax Revenue, saying, “How the County determines what it gives to the towns is a mystery to me. We’re budgeting much less for 2026 than we did in 2025.” The available fund balance is being reduced from $398,349 in 2025 to $200,000 in 2026.

The Peru Gazette analyzed portions of the Budget:

Health Insurance – $284,177 in 2026 vs $258,390 in 2025. 

NYS Retirement – $204,778 in 2026 vs. $165,283 in 2025. 

Sales Tax Income – $225,000 in 2026 vs. $326,466 in 2025 

Employee Wage Increases – 3% based on the Consumer Price Index.

Bond Payments on the Fuller Road Culvert – $195,000 

Bond Payments on the 1st Telegraph Rd. Culvert – $71,159 

Click here view the Preliminary 2026 Budget

Story updated  11/15/25 at 3:10 p.m. and 11/17/25 at 8:45 PM – Health insurance increase have been about 18%, not 22% as originally stated.