FORESTBURGH — The Town Board adopted a $1.83 million budget Nov. 5, increasing the town’s property tax levy by 1.19% while raising spending by about 4.55%.

The 2027 budget calls for $1,289,915 in town property taxes, up $15,107 from 2026. Spending increases $79,432, from $1,747,408 to $1,826,840.

To help cover the spending increase, the town will use $130,000 left over from previous years, compared with $98,000 in the 2026 budget. It also expects $406,925 from sources other than property taxes, an increase of $32,325. Together, those funds reduce the amount that must be collected through property taxes.

Those figures cover the town’s general and highway funds.

The general fund accounts for $734,740 in spending, while the highway fund totals $1,092,100. Highway allocations include increases for road repairs, improvements and snow removal.

Supervisor Daniel Hogue Jr. said the levy increase remains below the town’s state property tax cap. Presenting his final budget before leaving office, Hogue credited the board’s work reviewing town finances.

“We’re responsible for it, and we try to spend it responsibly,” Hogue said.

During the public hearing, resident Yehuda Miller questioned spending overruns in town hall contractual expenses and the contingency account. He urged the board to consider whether next year’s allocations adequately reflected those expenses.

Miller also objected to reducing the supervisor’s salary while increasing compensation for some other elected positions, arguing that pay decisions should treat the offices consistently regardless of who holds them.

The board adopted the budget following the hearing. Councilman Vincent Galligan was absent.

The board also approved a $1,000 escrow requirement for sketch plan reviews of major subdivisions and conservation subdivisions. Applicants must deposit the money to cover outside legal and engineering reviews, with unused funds returned.

Planning Board representatives said other application categories already require escrow deposits, but the fee schedule omitted an amount for these sketch plan reviews. Without those deposits, the town has been paying the professional review costs.

Miller questioned the additional requirement, noting that applicants already pay an application fee. Board members discussed whether that fee adequately covered the outside professionals’ work.

Hogue said the escrow requirement would apply going forward, without imposing a new charge on sketch plans already submitted.