M'burgh OKs Village Budget with Slight Tax Hike

By David Avitabile

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh village board members Monday night approved a $1.045 million budget for 2026 that holds a slight tax rate hike.

The budget was approved after a public hearing at which no one spoke.

The spending plan contains a tax increase of 0.89 percent. The rate increased 0.89 percent from $9.257 per $1,000 of assessed valuation to $9.340 per $1,000.

Late changes in the budget included:

* $7,000 in operational funding increases (Turnout Gear and Expenses) for the Middleburgh Fire Department upon their request.

* $250 in contractual expenses increases were approved for Village Historian upon their request.

* 0.9% in Village Property Tax increases were approved to cover these budgetary requests.

"The fire department certainly needs the money and it's good for the village," said Trustee Bob Tinker.

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In other action, board members:

* Agreed to have the Rotary place Candy Canes over the parking meters for free parking from Friday, November 28, to January 6, 2026.

* Announced that the new deputy clerk is Alecia Seletsky.

* Heard Jerry Wayman, chief of the Middleburgh Fire Department, say that there were several recent hose failures and nozzles are being tested.

* Agreed to put a dead-end sign on Hayes Lane (or Avenue) at the corner of Union Street and MT Path. Several drivers tried to find their way out of the traffic during the Fall Festival parade by going up the street.

* Went into executive session to discuss real property.