AUBURN — Faced with many challenges, including the expectation of less revenue, the proposed 2018 Androscoggin County budget would increase county taxes by 6.0 percent.
The preliminary budget was presented to county commissioners Wednesday night by Androscoggin County Administrator Larry Post.
The proposed general expenditure portion of the budget is up by a modest 0.86 percent, while the county portion of the jail budget shows a 3 percent increase, less than the 4 percent allowed by the state.
But revenues and credits are expected to fall by more than $122,000 or 3.03 percent, to create the proposed 6.0 percent tax levy.
Much of the shortfall is the result of lower reserve funds and the anticipation of no funding from the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. The county received $78,418 from MDEA last year.
The building reserves are dropping from $225,000 in 2017 to $50,000 for the upcoming fiscal year. Much of the $175,000 is being used to repair the deteriorating clock tower atop the county building.
The revenue crunch isn’t the only challenge facing the county. In his memo to commissioners and the Budget Committee, Post wrote that the issues include “from more demanded from us, to continuing building improvements, bringing wages up, dealing with jail/state issues and needing to continue upgrading in a number of areas.”
Post praised his department heads for the “tremendous job” working to keep the budget increase in check, resulting in the 0.86 percent increase on the departmental level.
Expecting to take three weeks to review the budget, commissioners looked at nine accounts, including the Emergency Management Agency, five accounts overseen by District Attorney Andrew Robinson, the treasurer’s budget and the commissioners’ own account.
Chairwoman Sally Christner of Turner was proud to point out that the commissioners have spent zero dollars on legal fees this year (the $943.84 spent this year was a carryover bill from December 2016). The previous commission had spent more than $76,000 in legal fees in 2016, a major point of contention the past couple of years with some commissioners and the county municipalities.
Not counting any potential salary adjustments, EMA Director Joanne Potvin presented a budget that was nearly $9,400 less than last year’s appropriation.
Robinson said his goal was to “flatline the budget” he presented. He did request $4,000 for a new photocopier, but offset that increase by cutting $6,250 from his office lease and cutting a few other line items.
Commissioners made no initial cuts to the budget.
Earlier, Commissioner Alfreda Fournier of Auburn offered her resignation because she is moving out of her district.
Commissioners also agreed to submit a letter of support to Central Maine Power on its bid to connect hydropower from Quebec to the New England grid through Maine. The 145-mile transmission line would start at the Canadian border and end at the Lewiston substation on Larrabee Road.
They also discussed a labor contract for 55 minutes in executive session.
ssherlock@sunjournal.com
Androscoggin County Building in Auburn.
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