FARMINGTON – Franklin County commissioners vote 2-1 Tuesday to approve the Budget Advisory Committee’s $5.23 million budget for 2011-12.

The decision came after much debate on amendments the committee made to the budget and the process used to determine a budget.

Commissioners are required by law to either accept the committee’s recommendation or vote unanimously to reject it and send specific line items back to the committee for reconsideration.

It was clear that commissioners did not agree with the process the committee followed. However, county Clerk Julie Magoon read the law governing the proceedings to commissioners and there was no specific time frame when the committee has to adopt a budget after it closes the public hearing.

Traditionally, commissioners propose a budget, the committee reviews it and proposes a budget. The committee then holds a public hearing and then votes on the budget after they close the hearing on the same night.

This time, the committee proposed a budget of $5.27 million, which was similar to commissioners, then held a public hearing and reconvened a week later to deliberate on the budget and vote on it.

The committee also determined it would not take any more public input after the hearing. It added $15,000 for a fire alarm for the courthouse and $20,000 to hold a referendum on building a new communications building for dispatchers. It also factored in 26 pay periods for next year.

The committee reduced the amount of money to three social service agencies, giving Tri-County Mental Health $20,000. Commissioners recommended $30,000; the agency requested $35,000.

It reduced the the amount to Western Maine Community Action to $40,000. The agency requested $49,500 and commissioners recommended that amount.

It also trimmed $2,000 from the SeniorsPlus request of $36,000. Commissioners had recommended $36,000.

Commissioner Gary McGrane of Jay opposed the commissioners’ vote to approve the budget. He said he wouldn’t have minded some changes if they had reasonable explanations. He said he didn’t like the way the committee handled the budget process.

“I will not support this budget because of principles,” he said. “I think the process has been hijacked by the Budget Advisory Committee.”

It bothered him, he said, that the committee didn’t come right out and say it supported or did not support the budget.

“I think it is very underhanded, disingenuous to the people of Franklin County,” McGrane said.

Attempts to send the budget back to the committee for reconsideration of some items failed because commissioners could not get a unanimous vote  to do so.

Chairman Fred Hardy of New Sharon said he didn’t have a reason to send the budget back. He compromised with the committee’s budget and was willing to support it, he said.

Magoon said the Budget Advisory Committee did request information from agencies on salary increases employees have received. Some replied with information, others didn’t, she said.

Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong said, “The budget committee gave us a budget that they feel taxpayers can afford.”

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