Town of Aurora adopts 2026 budget with small tax rise, employee pay and health‑insurance increases

The Town of Aurora board adopted its 2026 budget on Nov. 10, approving modest tax and staffing cost changes while saying the town will remain under the New York state tax cap.

Supervisor said the budget consolidates the town's general and highway funds and special districts and includes a tax‑rate change equal to 12 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which the board said would amount to about $12 on a $100,000 assessment. The budget also provides a 3% across‑the‑board wage increase for employees (or $1 an hour, whichever is greater) and increases the town's contribution to employees' health insurance by 12% to help offset premium increases. "Despite increased cost, notably health insurance, the town board was able to develop a budget that keeps us under the tax cap," the Supervisor said.

The board reported appropriated fund balances of $215,000 in the general fund, $85,000 in the town‑outside‑village fund and $145,000 in the highway fund and said those reserves would not be depleted to meet the tax‑cap target. Board members praised staff work on the budget during discussion before the motion to adopt passed after a voice vote in which one member said, "I opposed," but the chair declared the motion carried.

The budget also incorporates updates made since the preliminary budget: finalized assessor valuations, an updated exemption‑impact report, Orchard Park delinquent water adjustments, the adopted Aurora Colden Fire District budget and the preliminary South Wales Fire District budget. The board directed that the adopted budget move forward to implementation; the Supervisor will administer appropriations and carry out next steps for payroll and vendor contracts.