Lake Luzerne residents who have long set their garbage cans at the curb may soon need a new plan. The town's preliminary 2027 budget, totaling $5,630,002.13, excludes funding for curbside pickup, meaning residents would have to contract with a private waste company or haul their own trash to the transfer station.
The town board presented the preliminary budget on Oct. 20, according to The Post-Star, after weighing two versions of the spending plan — one with garbage pickup funded and one without. Town Supervisor Jim Niles said the board had to prepare the budget either with garbage pickup or without it, framing the decision as a binary choice shaped by the town's finances.
A Budget Shaped By a Rejected Vote
The exclusion follows a contentious Sept. 15 meeting where the board actually voted down a proposal to remove curbside pickup altogether. That vote came after what the newspaper described as months of presentations and public information meetings on the issue. Niles and Councilmember Dane Morton voted in favor of removing the service, while Councilmembers Annie McMahon and Burgess Ovitt voted against it, and Councilmember Pam Petteys abstained.
Even though that September measure failed, the preliminary budget was presented as if pickup would be removed, with $183,000 shaved from the budget line. The 2027 proposal exceeds the 2026 budget by $31,561.98, with taxpayers expected to cover $2,354,701.13 of total costs. Increased revenues are projected to cover another $3,109,863, and other available fund balances would make up the remaining $165,438.
The Case For and Against Keeping Pickup
Niles estimated that the 2027 budget would require roughly an 18% tax increase, according to the same Post-Star report. That math reflects a budget squeeze that has been building for years: Morton has noted the town's general fund balance stood at $1.15 million in 2021, $1.13 million in 2022, $859,000 in 2023, $539,000 in 2024, and $245,000 in 2025. Niles said the fund balance was expected to be zero or less in 2026.
Separately, the town board has been gathering information on creating a special tax district that would recoup some of the money it spends annually on residential waste pickup, according to a separate Post-Star report. That earlier account noted the town currently provides curbside pickup at no additional fee, with an annual municipal waste-management cost of $363,093.
What Residents Could Face Without Pickup
Absent curbside service, residents would need to turn to private haulers or bring their own garbage to the town's transfer station, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Lake Luzerne Buildings and Grounds department. Warren County has noted that transfer stations across the county handle residents' recycling and garbage needs and are operated and maintained by individual towns.
Residents may face more of the hauling burden if curbside service ends, including trips to the transfer station. The New York State Comptroller's office has separately advised municipalities to evaluate different solid-waste collection methods and estimate the cost of each before settling on an approach.
Other Fee Hikes Tucked Into the Budget
Garbage pickup isn't the only line item drawing attention in the preliminary budget. The town board also increased the annual vendor permit fee to $375 and the one-day vendor license fee to $35. The senior center special-event fee was raised to $10, which includes $3 payable to Warren County, while special-event attendees who skip the meal will pay $7.
The board additionally proposed raising the boat-rack rental fee from $25 to $100, though that increase is set to be discussed further at a following meeting. The preliminary budget also includes appropriations for youth services within the town.
Next Steps for Residents
The town board has scheduled a public hearing on the preliminary budget for Nov. 4 at 6 p.m. at Lake Luzerne Town Hall, giving residents a chance to weigh in before any final decisions are made on garbage pickup, fees, or the overall spending plan.
