Gilboa Adopts 2026 Budget, Opposes Sweeping Energy Restrictions

By Liz Page

GILBOA – Members of the Gilboa Town Board adopted the 2026 budget, during their regular meeting on Monday. No one spoke during the continued budget hearing and no additional changes were made to the budget, which  projects a 2.5 percent increase in the tax rate. Supervisor Alicia Terry said it is the first increase in the tax rate in six years.

The general budget totals $87,488.70 and the highway budget totals $1,626,480. The overall budget increase remains within the allowable state tax cap.

Work has begun on repair of the roof at the town highway salt/sand shed, however, the work was stopped when Highway Superintendent John Wyckoff noticed the panels being installed were not lining up. The work was stopped after Delaware Engineering contacted the contractor for the project, AMZ. The work has been halted and the town is documenting each step of the process as they attempt to ensure the installation is correct. The concern is that by the time all the panels are installed, they will be off by a large amount. 

The town board did agree to pay AMZ for work up to this point in the amount of $72,912. Supervisor Terry said that does not include the metal work at all, which is separate from the general construction work and demolition. She also assured that the building is temporarily protected by materials that underlay the panels and have already been installed.

She and Wyckoff are working with the consulting firm and the town attorney in an attempt to rectify the situation.

Supervisor Terry advised in her report that she has  contacted the New York State Agriculture Mediation Program in regard to a neighbor/farmer dispute. She is hoping they will be able to resolve the issue. If not, she said that under the town's Right to Farm Law, a committee of three people can be established to make a decision which could then be appealed through the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

She said the county has paid the town $205,000 for the repaving of Wyckoff Road and they will be looking to extend the work permit for the multi-plate culvert that has arrived, but has not yet been installed on Flat Creek Road. She does not anticipate any problem being granted an extension for the work.

Board members also approved a resolution supporting Congressman Nick Langworthy's Energy Choice Act, which opposes government-mandated natural gas bans. She said the county Board of Supervisors as well as the other towns in the county are expected to adopt the resolution. The bill is H.R. 3699, S.1945.

She said the act is related to a federal act that goes into effect Dec. 31 to require all-electric building permits. Langworthy's proposal would ensure that people will still have a choice of how to heat and cook in their homes. People should contact representatives: Assemblyman Chris Tague, Senator Peter Oberacker; Congressman Nick Langworthy, Alise Stephanic, Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.