OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Town Supervisor Brian McAvoy said the Town of Arkwright would not raise taxes to pay for the new Town Hall. The 2026 Town Budget shows no tax increase.

ARKWRIGHT — Even with all of the building projects in the town of Arkwright, the tax rate for its residents will not increase in 2026. Brian McAvoy held true to that promise when he presented the Town of Arkwright Budget at a recent Town Board meeting.

The tax rate in Arkwright will stay flat at $9.2457 per $1,000 in assessed property value. The Town is able to absorb increases to fire protection costs, a new labor contract, and the building projects due to a reduced Highway Department budget and the use of reserve funds.

The new three-year labor contract, covering four full-time operators, includes increases of 6%, 5%, and 4% over the three years of the contract, beginning in 2026. The Town also pays insurance premiums for its employees, as well as a winter premium. Longevity pay increases are 50 cents for every five years of service, up to 20 years.

The Highway Department will not do any new hard-topping of roads in 2026, but will prepare to do so in future years. The Board is pushing off paying for its single axle truck by taking out a bond anticipation note to utilize its available funds to cover the building projects.

The Town anticipates building the new Town Hall in 2026, with its reserve funds covering the cost entirely. In the coming years, the Town will focus on hard-topping roads and building its reserves back up following the completion of the Town Hall.

In 2026, the only salary increase for elected officials was to Lisa Waldron, Highway Superintendent, who received a 3% raise for a 2026 salary of $55,702.

Town Clerk Jane Lindquist and Town Supervisor Brian McAvoy will each have salaries of $8,000; Town Justice Jeff Huyck will receive $7,500; and the members of the Town Council receive $1,500.

The Town received more than $90,000 in its fourth quarter distribution of sales tax this past year, which put the Town over its anticipated amount for the year. The Town has roughly $475,000 in its Highway Department accounts and $800,000 in the General Fund.

At its latest meeting, the Arkwright Town Board approved a new three-year contract with the Forestville Fire Department for fire protection. The contract is an extension of the current contract, with no changes to the terms or the coverage area currently in place. The contract includes a 2% increase on top of the town’s growth factor each year from the previous year’s rate.

In 2026, the fire tax rate in Arkwright will be 78.89 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. That equates to $40.23 for the year on the median assessed value residence in Arkwright.

Town Board member Larry Ball highlighted that a recent fire in the town, early on a Sunday morning, was responded to in roughly 30 minutes from the time of the call to the time the Forestville Fire Department was on site. Ball called the response “incredible”, and expressed his appreciation. McAvoy said the town is “happy to partner” with the Forestville Fire Department, as well as Cassadaga.

In the month of October, the Town Clerk’s office issued one dog license, one marriage license, and two copies of a marriage license for a total of $65 collected by the town. The Town of Arkwright Justice Court collected $750 in fines and surcharges in the month of October.

The Town Court will hire a new Court Clerk at a rate of $19 per hour, as Eva Gadewoltz is stepping down due to a conflict of interest after taking on duties with Chautauqua County. The Town is also joining a shared services contract with the Town of Pomfret for assessor services.

The next meeting of the Arkwright Town Board is Monday, Dec. 8, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A public hearing regarding a proposed local law for nuisance dogs will be held at 6:45 p.m., with more discussion surrounding a local law for a noise ordinance anticipated, as well.