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Town of Colonie adopts $129.3 million 2026 budget; median homeowner's bill rises about $13.88 a year
Summary
The Town of Colonie Town Board unanimously adopted its proposed $129,303,597 preliminary budget for 2026, a 3.68% increase driven by infrastructure, wage and pension costs; the measure was approved as Resolution 489 during the Oct. 24 meeting.
The Town of Colonie Town Board adopted the proposed 2026 annual budget, a $129,303,597 plan that the Town Controller said represents a 3.68% increase over the 2025 budget and will raise the median homeowner's general property tax bill by roughly $13.88 per year.
Town Controller Chris Kelsey said the total increase of $4,583,522 is driven by inflation, investment in road, water and sewer infrastructure, allowances for wage negotiations and higher required contributions to New York State's retirement system. "The budget for 2026 totals $129,303,597, which is a 3.68% increase over the 2025 budget of $124,720,075," Kelsey said.
Supervisor (speaker 1) framed the plan as cautious and focused on maintaining services despite national and regional cost pressures, citing recent energy and labor cost trends and noting the town's past efforts to limit the tax impact. "This budget is my fourth budget," the Supervisor said, adding the proposal would keep the town tax rate well below the state tax-cap threshold.
The budget preserves near‑level water and sewer user fees overall while moving certain Pure Waters district debt-service onto the general property tax bill beginning in February 2026, and consolidating sewer rents onto a consolidated utility invoice. Kelsey said the administration expects the net tax increase to residents from sewer service to be minimal.
Major allocations in the proposal include increased funding for road restoration and long‑term capital plans for waterline replacement (an $850,000 long‑term allocation was cited) and sewer lining (continuing a $500,000 plan begun in 2025). Kelsey also said pay and benefit increases and the filling of current vacancies account for much of the budget pressure.
The board moved and passed Resolution 489 to adopt the proposed budget by unanimous vote during the meeting. The Supervisor and Town Controller said the plan continues the town's conservative fiscal approach, including reserve funds and efforts to secure grant revenue where available.
What happens next: The board adopted the preliminary budget at the meeting; any further adjustments or final adoption steps will follow the town's public‑hearing and budget adoption schedule per town procedures.
