FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — The Town Council is gathering input from the public as the next year’s budget comes together.
The town holds its first public budget hearing Thursday, April 27 and another hearing on May 10, and the Fort Fairfield council will vote on whether to approve the municipal budget June 21.
Town Manager Jim Risner has been crafting the spending plan over the last few months. There is a deficit in the budget currently of $248,289 — about $148,000 from the local school district and $100,000 from the town, Risner said at the last council meeting on April 19.
Part of that on the town’s side is an increase to town’s capital reserve of about $86,000 to cover the costs of a new public works garage that is in the planning stages, Riser said.
Among other expense areas in the budget, health insurance for town employees is increasing 11 percent, the librarian position is moving from 23 hours per week to 32 hours per week, and a stipend is being added for firefighters covering the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift to drive an ambulance.
Despite the deficit to address, the town’s finances are in good shape, Risner said.
“The departments have done an extremely good job with their expenses. We’ll end the year with probably a $230,000 surplus, which is going to help us out.”
Following the budget approval in June, property valuations and the estimated property tax rate will be determined in mid-August, and the town council will set the mill rate at its September meeting.
In other Fort Fairfield municipal news, the Tri-Community Landfill has been approached by an anaerobic digesting company to create electricity from methane at the landfill and waste products from the nearby Pineland Farms beef operation. Landfill officials are meeting the company to look into the possibility of a partnership for a generation project.
