Most town workers to see raise
HOULTON, Maine — If the 2017 municipal budget for Houlton is approved as presented, most town employees will see a bump in their pay next year. Unionized employees would see a 2 percent cost-of-living increase, while all non-union employees would only receive a 1 percent raise.
On Dec. 14, 2016 councilors agree to move forward with a 2017 budget in the amount of $10,690,001. That figure is up slightly from last year’s budget of $10,575,166.
A public hearing on the budget will be held Wednesday, Jan. 4, at 6 p.m. At that time, residents can pose questions to each account in the budget and request any changes be made. The council will vote on the budget during that meeting.
“Overall, the Board of Budget Review found the budget to be a prudent and realistic financial plan of all town funds and activities for the ensuing fiscal year,” said Sue Tortello, Board of Budget Review spokesperson. “It strikes a sensible balance between providing quality services, while maintaining a reasonable tax rate. In short, it’s a good budget the board can support.”
Municipal spending is down $35,081 in the proposed budget. During the Dec. 14 meeting, the council agreed with a plan presented by the BBR that suggested the town only grant a 1 percent raise for non-union employees, which are all department heads and a few others.
Town Manager Butch Asselin had recommended a 2 percent raise for both employee groups.
By going with a 1 percent increase, the town could save about $15,000, some of which was to be added into a special account for a town wide revaluation that is anticipated for the year 2021 at a cost of between $200,000-$250,000. The total amount set aside for 2017 is $68,600. Last year, $31,929 was set aside for the project.
Tempers flared between some councilors at times during the discussion of the raises.
“I will be the bad guy,” councilor Jane Torres said. “We have a lot of expenses this year. We are coming in over budget and I just don’t think we can afford a 2 percent COLA. I don’t think the taxpayers are going to support that.”
While the majority of the board agreed with Torres, councilor Rosa McNally disagreed. “I think that it is a very small drop in the bucket for what we have,” McNally said. “We gave the chamber a significant increase two years ago. I don’t think we are in crisis mode. I don’t think this will make or break us.”
Asselin said the reduced wage increase could have an adverse affect on morale.
McNally suggested giving those employees a year’s notice that a reduced cost of living adjustment was in the works for the 2018 budget so they could better prepare. Her suggestion did not meet with the support of the full council.
McNally also tried to increase the Community Development account by $4,000, to reflect an increase in salary for the town’s economic development director. That request did not meet with support by her fellow councilors.
However, by a 3-2 consensus, the council, agreed to increase the salary of the town’s civic center supervisor by $4,286.
One of the biggest changes to the budget is a $17,000 increase for the Sockanosett Hose Company, which is the volunteer branch of the Houlton Fire Department. According to Asselin, volunteers will no longer receive stipends twice a year for their service. Instead, the volunteer firefighters will now receive regular paychecks, with taxes taken out. In order to ensure the firefighters still receive the equivalent of $2,500, the line account was increased.
Another new feature in the town budget comes from the police department, where it is being proposed that the town should lease patrol vehicles instead of purchasing them. A total of $30,000 is in the budget to replace two cruisers this year.
Because Maine voters approved raising the state’s minimum wage for the first time since 2009, bumping it to $9 per hour next year, from $7.50, and to $12 by 2020, a number of accounts will see increases in employee wages.
