The Vestal Town Board adopted the 2027 Final Budget on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, following a public hearing. This adoption marks the culmination of two months of intensive work by our Town personnel, especially our Town Comptroller, Department Heads, and Town Board members. It was a seemingly impossible task, with immense fixed cost increases, but a fiscally sound financial plan for 2027, minimizing the costs to residents, has been adopted.
We encourage all residents to review the full 2027 budget. The notes section includes detailed descriptions for each line item. Here, you can easily review departmental costs, staffing levels, and individual personnel salaries. CLICK HERE to view the 2027 Town of Vestal Budget.
Below is an overview of the 2027 budget. For all the details, watch the slideshows: CLICK HERE to view the budget slideshow for the General Budget and Highway Budget. CLICK HERE to view the budget slideshow for the Special Districts (Water and Sewer Budgets)
Expected fixed cost increases:
Labor: about $600,000 (contractual)
Medical: about $600,000 (other municipalities have similar issues)
Electric: over $300,000 - 53% increase (due to new rate contract)
Financing Costs: about $685,000 (short-term cost, due to three bridge replacement projects)
Pension: increase of about $200,000
In order to stay under the cap, the Town is only allowed to increase the tax levy by: $175,459.
Budget Key Points:
The budget is under the cap.
All services and programs will be fully maintained.
All items in the budget are accurate and realistic.
Every budget Fund Balance (reserve money) will continue at healthy, comfortable levels, substantially exceeding the minimums recommended.
Targeted investments will be made, increasing efficiency.
All capital needs (equipment and projects) will be funded, utilizing a carefully constructed mix of Fund Balance and bonding.
All capital needs were considered alongside the regular budget, establishing a comprehensive financial plan for 2027
Targeted Investments:
In the formulation of this budget, the needs of every department were carefully considered. Funds have been targeted so that our personnel will be equipped with the tools that they need to do their jobs better and more efficiently.
Better software for our Code department so that they can draft reports in the field and finish them more quickly and efficiently.
New software for our Assessor, which will provide current (legally sustainable) 3D images of every building in Vestal, enabling him to assess every property fairly and accurately.
Digitization of records, enhancing efficiency.
New, better equipment for our Police Department, from tasers to rifles, equipping them with the tools that are essential to ensure their safety and that of our residents.
Equipment for our Highway and Parks Departments, including: a truck, tractor, mower, sand and salt spreader.
A sewer replacement project.
The development of a coordinated, comprehensive plan for the replacement of vehicles.
Enhanced professional training, allowing our personnel to develop their skills to develop more efficient practices.
Planned capital investments:
1 million dollars in road reconstruction.
Rock Road Bridge repair.
Library (and Museum) parking lot repaving.
Vestal Museum decking and railing replacement.
Assessor’s Office vestibule rehabilitation.
Andrews Tower roof replacement.
Vestal Center Park tennis court reconstruction.
Harold Moore Park tennis court reconstruction.
In creating this budget, our personnel utilized sound financial practices:
Revenues exceeded the budgeted amounts, creating larger Fund Balances (reserve funds). Some of those funds will be utilized for one-time costs and capital purchases. Every Fund Balance will continue at healthy, comfortable levels.
Careful review of expenditures, ensuring accuracy and cost-effectiveness.
Targeted utilization of available funds for one-time and short-term costs.
Separation of vehicle purchases from the budget, utilizing other funding sources for purchases.
Reduction in costs for the Assessor’s Office (personnel restructuring) and the Information Technology Department (software upgrades, with cost savings) alleviated some stress on other departmental budgets.
Although Fund Balances will be utilized for some one-time and capital expenditures, healthy, comfortable Fund Balances will be maintained, as follows:
Projected Fund Balances, AFTER 2027 capital expenditures:
General Fund: $5.48 million (minimum balance recommended: $1.8 - $2.79 million)
Medical Fund: $2.6 million (recommended minimum $885,000)
Highway Fund: $2.11 million (minimum balance recommended: $910,000 - $1.37 million)
Water: $2.5 million (minimum balance recommended: $255,834 - $383,752)
Sewer: $4.3 million (minimum balance recommended: $411,000 - $616,774)
Note: Water and sewer projects are normally very costly (large projects are millions of dollars). Although grants are normally obtained, each fund must have enough money available for the associated costs as well as unexpected occurrences.
During the budget process, all expenditures and practices were scrutinized. The following issues were identified and addressed: two temporary and one potentially problematic. The temporary issues will be rectified in 2027; the potentially problematic issue will be watched closely, and alternatives will be explored, if necessary.
Short-term issues: (these will be resolved)
Highway: Short-term increase in financing costs for 3 bridge replacement projects. The projects are almost entirely funded by grant money, but the financing costs are not reimbursed. Since the money is reimbursed quickly, long-term bonding is not necessary; the financing cost is a short-term expenditure, not a long-term carried cost. The $685,000 will be paid with Fund Balance. After the expenditure, the Fund Balance will be at a healthy $2.11 million.
Water: Short-term funding needed for temporary revenue shortfall. The rate increase will provide additional revenue, and the fund will become fully funded in 2027. Fund Balance will be utilized for the temporary shortfall, leaving over $2 million in the Fund Balance.
One issue is potentially more problematic: (most municipalities are facing similar issues)
Medical: Probable long-term problem. The cost of medical care is increasing substantially, so most municipalities are faced with large increases. Our medical fund is projected to have (up to) a $600,000 increase, but it is self-funded, so it may level off or even decrease. The Board considered the options carefully and decided on a moderate approach for now. The medical fund balance is very healthy, so funds from the medical reserve will be utilized for now, but the fund will be watched closely to ascertain whether (or not) it recovers. Our medical consulting company is researching other fixed medical plans, should a choice become necessary. $338,000 of the medical reserve fund will be utilized in 2027 (leaving a healthy $2.6 million in the reserve); if the problem continues, options will be considered to ensure future stability.
Thank you to our Comptroller (Rajat Saha), all our Department Heads, and our Board members for all your hard work in this process, and all your work throughout the year!