ALTAMONT — At $2.7 million, the village of Altamont’s first-draft budget for 2025-26 is up 7.57 percent from this year’s $2.5 million adopted spending plan.

The tax rate for next year was not included as part of the preliminary budget, but with an expected levy of $332,800, the tax rate appears to stay flat, at $2.18 per $1,000 of assessed value, according to math.

The three pots of money that make up the village budget are set to go up next year:

— The general fund would increase about 11.25 percent from about $1,486,200 to $1,653,600, with approximately $378,600 in fund balance being used to close the gap between revenues and appropriations; 

— The water fund is expected to increase about 2.3 percent, from $449,300 to $459,525, and uses about $73,200 of fund balance; and

— Sewer costs are anticipated to increase about 2.1 percent from $572,100 to $584,200, while the village will tap its rainy-day sewer account for about $44,200 to cover appropriations.

The village’s largest general fund expenditures for next year are expected to be:

— Public safety, both police and fire, $352,000, up from $310,000. 

Much of the increase is attributable to an increase in total police wages, which would go from $165,000 to about $187,400 ;

— Transportation, including the snow removal and road construction performed by the village’s department of public works, about $302,700 to $373,000. 

The largest chunk of the increase is essentially a $52,360 placeholder. 

Treasurer Heather Kelly explained to trustees during a recent budget workshop that she placed the contingent line item for “anticipated increases in salaries for the year” or “maybe hiring another laborer.” 

Kelly said the $52,360 was so “we could see what the numbers would look like,” and that it “can always come out if we decide that's not something we wanted. But this way it gives us a more accurate picture ….”; 

— General government support, about $260,300, up from $257,800; and

— Employee benefits, which would increase from $206,250 to $218,400.

On the general fund’s revenue side, Altamont expects to pay for its services with:

— $600,000 in county sales tax;

—  About $332,800 from property taxes;

— About $142,000 from intergovernmental charges, the majority of which are fire-protection services;

— $60,000 from New York state; and

— $39,000 in cable franchise fees. 

The salaries for Altamont’s four trustees would increase $102.50, from $5,125 to $5,227.50 while Mayor Kerry Dineen’s pay would go up $250, from $10,455 to $10,250. The salary of village justices James Greene and Bridget Holohan Scally would increase from $6,150 to $6,273. 

The next budget workshop is scheduled for March 13, at 6 p.m., at the village hall.