The Town Board of Goshen approved a revised preliminary budget for 2026 on Oct. 23, adopting changes the supervisor and staff made after finding errors in premium and equipment estimates and after public comment.

The revision moved a $300,000 appropriation from the DA fund into contingency to bolster the town's available fund balance, adjusted the DA phone-equipment line from $75,000 to $85,000 based on a new quote, and maintained the previously ordered replacements for two International dump trucks that add two wing-plow-equipped vehicles to the highway fleet. The board discussed small pay adjustments — including an increase in the highway secretary's pay and several personnel adjustments — and clarified the town will hire a seasonal worker for cemetery mowing after the prior contractor retired.

Board members said the balance adjustments were intended to protect the town's bond rating. The supervisor reported contact from the town’s rating analyst urging review of fund balances and explained the contingency move is meant to improve year-end balance metrics. Members also discussed the town’s reported fund balances (described in the budget document as Fund A, Fund B and Fund DA) and how the town moves funds between a high-yield investment account and its operating bank account when needed.

In public comments, resident Chris Healy asked for clearer presentation of the fund-balance tables and questioned several line items in the budget document. Bill Troy and others asked about declines in payments in lieu of taxes and increases in fines-and-forfeitures projections; board staff explained traffic enforcement and commercial-ticketing changes factor in the projected increase in fines revenue. Speakers also pressed about the town's grant-writing work; town staff said the grant writer has identified and helped secure several grants, including recent police and project grants.

On staffing, the board agreed not to add a full-time CSEA position that had been discussed earlier; instead they will hire a seasonal worker for about six months to handle cemetery and summer mowing duties, offset in part by contract changes tied to the town taking over cemetery maintenance. The board reiterated the seasonal hire will report to the town.

After discussion and public comment the board voted in roll call to adopt the preliminary town budget for 2026 as revised. The vote in favor included the five council members and the supervisor. The board also opened and closed a public hearing on the budget during the meeting as part of the adoption process.

The town emphasized the adoption is of the preliminary budget; final adoption remains subject to further steps required by town law and additional public review ahead of next year’s budget adoption process.

The board did not set a final adoption date at the meeting; staff said additional adjustments or clarifications raised during the hearing process would be made before the final budget vote.