ARKWRIGHT — For the third consecutive year, the town of Arkwright approved a reduction of taxes for town residents in its upcoming budget.

The Town Board approved the proposed budget at a recent meeting, with all members of the board present voting in favor of the budget. Board member Chris Jackson was absent from the meeting.

The budget reflects a 3.01% tax reduction for town residents. It also calls for a 2% increase for fire districts, as per negotiated in the previously approved contracts between Fire districts and the town.

“Even though the fire district taxes have to go up based on tax cap and based on our contracts, the town taxes are coming down considerably more than fire taxes are going up,” said Town Supervisor Brian McAvoy.

The budget also includes raises for many town employees. The town included an increase of $3,936 to Code Enforcement Officer Ed Pagano, with increased duties now that short-term rental properties will be regulated by the town. The town is now allocating $10,000 toward code enforcement.

The Court Clerk rate increased to $16 per hour. Dog Control costs increased to $1,400 per year plus reimbursement for expenses. The Town Historian will receive $300.

McAvoy will make $5,843 as Town Supervisor. Board members Lynn Bedford, Larry Ball, Chris Jackson, and Bruce Gustafson receive $1,500 each. Town Justice John Potter receives $5,000. Town Clerk Jane Lindquist receives $7,154.

Highway Superintendent Lisa Waldron received a $2,000 raise, in line with 4% raises to the Highway Department crew. Waldron will receive a salary of $52,000 as a full-time employee.

In addition to an increased base pay of $22.77 per hour for the Highway Department workers, the town also agreed to a Memorandum of Understanding for five months of winter premium pay at an increase of $2.50 per hour from Nov. 1 until April 1, rather than 25 cents hourly as previously negotiated.

The Highway Department vowed to complete the required work with a four-person crew, rather than requiring additional seasonal workers be hired by the town, as stated in the contract.

“They didn’t come just asking for more. They came with something,” said McAvoy, noting the difficulty the town has had finding part-time seasonal workers.

If all required work is completed by a four-person crew, McAvoy estimated a savings of more than $10,000 to the town.

“If they do it, it’s a win-win,” McAvoy said. “We’re sharing the savings with the guys who make it possible. … If it doesn’t work out, we won’t do it next year.”

McAvoy also stated his desire to improve infrastructure in the town, as well as making improvements to the town’s roads in the upcoming year. The town budgeted for a new plow truck, a mini-excavator roll, and a salt spreader, while Highway Department construction is up 8% from the previous budget.

Building plans, like the new Town Hall and the Highway Department building, will come from the town’s reserve funds. McAvoy stated that if building plans proceed according to his expectations, the town should begin 2025 with approximately one year of operating reserves on-hand.

McAvoy’s main focus of the upcoming year, however, was on improved growth in the town.

“Really what this town needs is to improve our growth,” McAvoy said. “Our growth is next to nothing, and it shouldn’t be next to nothing. People are building all the time … but our assessed evaluation doesn’t go up. We’ve got to really work on that.”

McAvoy continued, “Property values should be increasing. We’re okay as it is, but I would like to see the taxable rate come up to where it ought to be, so everybody can experience reductions. As it is now, the people that are paying their fair share are probably paying a bigger burden than they should.”

Town Board member Larry Ball suggested the new Town Assessor, Erica Munson, tour the town’s properties to reassess the area’s assigned values. Munson was appointed to the role of Town Assessor last fall.

“Erica is receiving a nice income from the town. She needs to be putting the work in for it,” Ball said.

McAvoy, who is up for re-election next month, stated, “We’ve got to focus on that. … Next year, whether I’m here or not, I think you guys have got to carry on and push that.”