New Gloucester budget getting final review Wednesday

NEW GLOUCESTER — The Budget Committee will conduct a final review of the 2019-20 budget at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Meeting House.

The proposal stands at $3.03 million, not including a possible $700,000 for public safety. Projected revenues are $2.63 million.

The 2018-19 budget was $3.18 million.

The rescue budget is $180,430 and the Fire Department’s is $196,429 for a total of $376,859. Ambulance transport revenues are $97,500.

Other department amounts and comparisons to last year are: Administration, $323,000, an increase of $23,000; public works, $762,500, an increase of $31,623; parks and recreation, $139,000, an increase of $79,600; benefits, $198,000, an increase of $23,800; and insurance, $450,100, an increase of $14,250.

“Our FY 2020 budget is particularly difficult given uncontrollable increases in budget lines, i.e. electricity, fuels and postage,” Town Manager Carrie Castonguay wrote in a memo. “We also have a new governor and it is unknown the impact the proposed state budget will have on revenues such as Maine Revenue Sharing and (Local Road Assistance Program) funds.”

Officials are proposing a townwide revaluation for fiscal year 2020-21.

A public hearing by the Budget Committee will held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, at the Meeting House.

The Board of Selectmen must approve a budget by April 1 in order to have it on the warrant for the annual town meeting May 6.