Saranac Lake’s 2026-27 Tentative Budget: What It Means for Your Tax Bill

The Village of Saranac Lake has submitted its tentative 2026-27 budget totaling $11,983,130 across its General, Water, and Sewer funds. The budget was prepared by Village Manager Bachana Tsiklauri and Treasurer Kendra Morgan — both of whom have since announced their departures under Mayor Kelly Brunette.

What You Will Actually Pay

Tax impact varies significantly by municipality:

Harrietstown property owners will see their Village tax rate rise from $13.86 to $14.24 per $1,000 of assessed value — a 2.74% increase. On a home assessed at $200,000, that means $76 more per year.

North Elba property owners will see their rate drop from $9.73 to $9.33 per $1,000 — a 4.06% decrease. On a $200,000 assessment, that is $79 less per year.

St. Armand property owners see the largest swing — a 19.41% decrease, from $11.58 to $9.33 per $1,000. On a $200,000 assessment, that is $449 less per year.

The difference is driven by the Harrietstown reassessment. When assessed values rise faster in one municipality than others, that town’s share of the overall tax burden increases — even if the total levy stays the same.

Where the Money Goes

The General Fund totals $7,352,083. The largest single expense category is personnel — the Village’s total payroll is budgeted at $4,632,054, including $463,170 in overtime. The Village Manager’s salary was budgeted at $102,965. The Clerk and Treasurer were each budgeted at approximately $70,000.

The Village is also contributing $150,000 to a Fire Truck Reserve and has authorized an independent financial audit.

The General Fund Is Tightening

The Village’s unreserved General Fund balance is projected to drop from $1,527,717 at the start of the fiscal year to approximately $1,012,462 by May 2026 — a drawdown of over $500,000. Water and Sewer funds remain healthy.

Who Will Execute This Budget

The budget was submitted March 20, 2026 by Tsiklauri and Morgan. The Village Manager has since announced his departure, the Treasurer has resigned, and the Clerk is on maternity leave. The Village has issued a public call for Letters of Interest to fill all three positions.

The 2026-27 budget — covering June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027 — will be implemented by whoever fills those roles.

The full tentative budget is available at saranaclakeny.gov.