The Grand Island Town Board on Nov. 3 approved the town2026 preliminary budget following a public hearing and board discussion. The budget documents read into the record include a general fund appropriation of $12,741,280 with $2,335,135 to be raised by taxation and an estimated general tax rate of 0.671 (a 31.63 percent decrease as presented); the fire protection appropriation is $2,023,325 with $1,877,750 to be raised by taxation; the highway fund appropriation is $4,836,585 with $3,167,151 to be raised by taxation; the sewer district appropriation is $5,439,330 with $1,636,684 to be raised by taxation; and the water district appropriation is $5,156,877 with $1,511,065 to be raised by taxation.

During the public hearing resident Paula Schuch questioned salary increases published for certain town employees, the availability of a capital plan and why the budget materials were not published earlier for public review. "How come this isn't published in advance so that we can do research and then ask more appropriate questions?" Schuch asked.

Board members then discussed the budget during regular business. Councilman Kilmer and others questioned how the fire protection line could show a large percentage decrease on the rate line while the fire protection request from the service had sought a pay increase. Kilmer said he was uncomfortable leaving the budget with a 15 percent fire protection number reflected because it could be used as an anchor in negotiations; he said he preferred a lower negotiation target. Other members said without a contract they could not simply remove funding because they would have nowhere else to find funds if negotiations failed.

A motion to approve the preliminary 2026 budget was made and seconded. Roll call recorded DeGotte Aye; Garcia Aye; Kilmer No; Marston Aye. The motion carried.

What this means: the board advanced the town2026 budget as the preliminary appropriation; the discussion made clear outstanding issues remain, notably the town2015 contract negotiations with the fire protection provider and requests for clearer capital-plan documentation and public posting of budget documents.

No further formal action on a final adopted budget date was recorded at the meeting; the approved preliminary budget will proceed through whatever follow-up the town board sets in coming meetings.