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Nov. 25, 2016
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County cites need to increase tax revenues
Total from taxes jumps 5.8%
by RJ Heller

 

     "We are 35,000 people living in a 3,400 square-mile area, and we, as the commissioners, do not take the budget process lightly," stated Chris Gardner, chairman of the Washington County commissioners, prior to the board's final review and acceptance of the proposed operating budget for 2017. Citing the need to increase the revenues raised by taxes, the commissioners decided to accept the budget as prepared by the nine‑member budget committee and their recommendation for a 5.81% increase for the fiscal year of 2017.
     The budget for the next fiscal year totals $6,744,442 and includes $1 million in appropriated county revenue. Of that total, the amount to be covered by way of taxation is $5,774,866. An additional $288,334 is required and represents a 5.81% increase as compared to the 2016 budget.
     Approximately 5% of the increase is earmarked for the jail system. "A few years ago we reluctantly accepted the decision for the State of Maine to take control of the jail's cost through a consolidated jail system," said Gardner. "The state agreed to freeze the amount the county would annually budget at a little over $2 million, and the state would finance the overages. As we feared, promises once made were quickly forgotten, and we have inherited the total management and financing of the jail back this year, along with a $279,000 shortfall."
      In addition to the financial challenge of managing the jail, it was made very apparent that there are a number of structural improvements requiring immediate attention, namely replacement of existing roofs on a number of buildings. Reserve funds for these types of capital improvements were utilized early on by the budget committee for other service-related needs in an attempt to minimize the tax burden.
      "The three big numbers that we have to look at in the budget process are the jail, our buildings and law enforcement, and right now we have challenges with all them," Gardner said. The other increases noted will be for an additional officer in the sheriff's department and improvements made to an aging fleet of vehicles. Citing the drug problem in the area and the fact that some communities are actually cutting back on law enforcement, Gardner and the other commissioners agreed that the county should help fill those gaps through the bolstering of the sheriff's department.
     Moving forward, the budget committee is suggesting the county aggregates all capital needs beyond 2017 and consider borrowing funds through a county bond, which could be paid down over the next 20 years. "This will then give us the ability to address the needs of these old buildings now and in the future," Gardner said.
      County Manager Betsy Fitzgerald, commenting on the budget process, knows any increase is tough but in the end is necessary to keep things running and buildings safe and secure. "This budget process initially revealed the need for a 15% increase as compared to 2016. But through five long meetings, the budget committee was able to cut that down to the amount we are now faced with. I will admit I am nervous that our reserves for building maintenance have been depleted in this process, but knowing that, we will need to come up with a remedy."
Commissioners deny Axiom TIF request
      In an earlier segment of the meeting, the commissioners opted to not approve a tax-increment financing (TIF) grant request in the amount of $100,000 made by Axiom Technologies. As reported back in September, Axiom originally submitted a proposal to implement a "fiber to home" project in rural Edmunds, which would also utilize funding via ConnectME along with Axiom providing an additional $30,000.
      Citing concerns on behalf of the board, Gardner said, "We take nothing away from the project or the need, but we have a problem in the amount for a 'for profit' business in what would be proprietary once it is completed. We perhaps would consider a lower amount, say $10,000, but we would require a plan on where the other funds would be coming from. Right now, as stated, it is not going to be a fit for this program."

 

 

 

 

 

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