HOULTON, Maine — The Houlton Town Council completed its review of the 2021 annual budget on Dec. 16, setting the stage for a public hearing which will be held on Jan. 4 at 6:15 p.m.
The council deliberated at Wednesday’s meeting over approving all the listed amounts put forward by the Board of Budget Review, which had completed its own review on Dec. 9. The board had recommended a total municipal budget of $8.7 million, plus county tax mandates and funding for RSU 29, for a grand total of $11.6 million for 2021.
The figure represents around a $100,000 increase from 2020, which had a grand total of $11.4 million and a municipal budget of $8.6 million. Some categories, such as health and social services, were increased from the previous year, from $25,000 to $34,000 while others, such as the airport, saw a decrease from $159,000 to $71,000.
Several budget items were increased after being approved. The town voted to give an additional $1,700 to Cary Library to go towards wages, after the proposal was made by councilor Sue Tortello. The increase makes the town’s recommended budget in line with what was submitted by the library.
“As far as direct services, I can’t think of an entity in town that provides more in the way of direct services than the library,” said Tortello. “I think they are uniquely different from the rest of the outside agencies.”
Along with the library, the town approved increases towards roads and capital reserves, with budgets increasing from $200,000 to $300,000 and from $91,000 to $131,000, respectively.
David Gates, head of the board of budget review, said he was optimistic about the budget and revenue goals for next year.
“I think we came up with a pretty good, well-rounded budget,” Gates said. “The revenues are very realistic, very attainable. And the fund balance, I think, is a very healthy fund balance.”
But town councilor Bill McCluskey cautioned that despite the town’s flatline budget and stable mill rate, the town had not been including funding for things like infrastructure and antiquated safety equipment vehicles, which has caused the town’s undesignated funds to diminish over the past several years.
“We’re letting things go to a point of failure, and having to turn to undesignated funds over and over again to fund things that should have been funded in the budget,” McCluskey said. “It’s just a matter of time before the undesignated funds and our needs are going to collide, and the undesignated funds will be depleted.”
