Information & Town News

The Town of Clifton Park 2026 Tentative Budget has been released.  The budget includes significant investments in our infrastructure, parks and nature preserves, programs, services and many other important elements.  Town budgets are structured utilizing separate funds and special districts in New York State.  The General Fund is the budget for general town operations, and the Highway Fund is the budget for the Highway Department.  The 2026 Tentative Budget remains within the New York State Tax Cap restrictions. 

The total spending in the Tentative Budget for the General Fund is $24,220,023 and total spending for the Highway Fund is $7,578,002. The Tentative Budget begins the budget process that will include budget workshops and a public hearing.  The figures in the Tentative Budget can change as the budget process progresses. The final budget adopted by the Town Board can also change during a given calendar year based on additional investments and projects undertaken by the Town Board for the General or Highway Funds. The NYS Assembly and Senate have approved legislation during the legislative session, not signed or vetoed by the Governor as of today.  It is possible positive action by the Governor on pieces of legislation, which may occur during the budget process or later this year, could also precipitate changes in the budget.  One important bill in this category would remove funding for EMS agencies from the tax cap calculations.  This legislation is crucial for the future viability of EMS agencies contracted by Clifton Park and municipalities throughout our area and across the state.  

The budget maintains no tax for the General Fund.   The Highway Fund tax will increase from .327883 per thousand of assessed value to .33441 per thousand of assessed value resulting in a total tax of $36.12 for a home with a full market value of $300,000.  The EMS tax will increase from .329383 per thousand of assessed value to .337073 per thousand of assessed value equating to a total tax of $36.40 for a home with a full market value of $300,000.   

The Tentative budget includes a 3.5% COLA for all Town employees.  We are also balancing significant increases in healthcare costs and the mandatory annual contribution all government organizations are required to allocate for the New York State Retirement Fund.   Per the NYS Comptroller’s statistics Clifton Park ranks 911 of 931 Towns in the state in municipal property taxes.  In addition, Saratoga County has the lowest property taxes and sales tax rate in NYS.  The NYS Tax Cap system has continued to be a challenge, due to high inflation rates in recent years as well as rising healthcare and operational costs.  As a government with low municipal taxes, the less than 2% allowable increase in the total tax levy per the Tax Cap provides a very small amount of money to allocate for budget purposes.     

The Town Board has allocated $3.45 million for paving and construction activities associated with road improvements for 2025. A portion or all funds not spent by the Highway Department for paving in 2025, will be considered for allocation in the 2026 budget, adding to the $1,650,000 included in the Tentative Budget for paving.  This budget adjustment may occur during the budget process or in 2026.  Currently, invoices totaling $1.182 million of the $3.45 of allocated funds have been submitted.     

The Town of Clifton Park has a multitude of programs for people of all ages.  The programs and services we enjoyed this summer at our camps, pools and recreational facilities will continue to be offered in 2026.  The 1500 members of the Clifton Park Senior Community Center as well as the people who use the Senior Transportation program will experience full support for these programs and activities in 2026.   

Clifton Park remains in a strong fiscal position, although our Town is not immune to the challenges faced by many communities in the state.  We will continue to be as flexible as possible throughout the year to identify and address important issues to our Town, while maintaining the strong financial status and low municipal taxes that have attributed to Clifton Park’s rising property values and increasing tax base.  An increasing tax base is an important element of any municipality’s fiscal future, for funding both municipal services and our school systems.