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County budget approved at $6.75 million

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FARMINGTON – Two commissioners expressed dissatisfaction with a $6.75 million budget advanced by the Franklin County Budget Committee but ultimately made few changes at Tuesday’s meeting.

Last week, the committee approved a $4.5 million county budget and $2.2 jail budget; roughly in line with the commissioners’ $6.75 million budget and up from the present fiscal year’s $6.56 million budget. The committee’s budget included a 3 percent salary increase for nonunion employees, as well as increases for two outside agencies: $30,000 for Western Maine Community Action and $10,000 for Western Maine Transportation.

Commissioner Charlie Webster of Farmington said that he was disappointed in the committee’s budget. He disagreed with the 3 percent increase, preferring a previously-discussed 2 percent increase for nonunion staff, and did not want to fund Western Maine Transportation and WMCA. Those agencies wanted to be politicians, Webster said, and were paying salaries that were too high for the local area.

Commissioner Terry Brann of Wilton also disagreed with the increased funding for the outside agencies, which he said acted as “enablers” for some residents.

Both commissioners noted that they had previously indicated that it had been their goal to completely defund most of the Program Grants lines by this year. Webster pointed to increases in other areas, such as the jail budget, and said that the county had to prioritize where to spend money. The agencies should approach the towns, Webster said, and ask them for funding directly.

Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong was not in agreement with the other commissioners, saying that he felt the budget committee had “really worked hard this year.”

“People from my district voted for the budget,” Barker said, referring to the members of the committee. “I can’t vote any different.”

That set off a series of 2 to 1 votes on the WMCA, Western Maine Transportation and SeniorsPlus – which was funded at $1 by the committee to preserve their appearance in future budgets – with Webster and Brann in favor of zero dollars and Barker opposed. As a result of those non-unanimous votes, the budget committee’s numbers will stand.

Whether the organizations receive the funds over the next fiscal year remains to be seen. Commissioners have not released $18,750 of the $25,000 approved for WMCA this fiscal year; $6,250 in total had been paid out according to Deputy Treasurer/Deputy Clerk Vickie Braley. Later in Tuesday’s meeting, Barker argued that the county should release the rest of those funds. Webster disagreed, saying that the money would only support wages for WMCA staff, not leverage additional grant funding.

Commissioners did make two unanimous changes to the budget: they added $1,000 to the Franklin County Soil & Water line, bringing it up to $21,000; and added $323 to Probate Court lines associated with the clerk’s salary.

The Probate Court change simply corrects a previous error; commissioners felt that the alteration should be advanced to the budget committee as that group would need to convene anyway to address the Soil & Water budget. Commissioners added the $1,000 to that organization’s line after learning that the program’s executive director hadn’t received any pay increases for some time. Their proposed $21,000 budget for the line was cut back down to $20,000 by the budget committee earlier this month.

To reverse the commissioners’ changes, the committee would need to vote by a two-thirds majority for their original figures.

County Clerk Julie Magoon also pointed out two adjustments that related to spreadsheet issues: a small modification to the Communications budget and the inclusion of a previously-discussed $2,000 increase to the county’s insurance lines. The amounts voted on by the budget committee were correct, but the bottom-line figure for the budget went up slightly as a result.

In total, the budget approved by commissioners totaled $6,751,545, adding the jail and county budgets together. Commissioners also approved using $150,000 from the Undesignated Fund to help defray the budget’s impact on local assessments.

Commissioners did move, by a 2 to 1 vote with Barker opposed, to set the salary increases of nonunion, non-elected employees at 2 percent. As most of the budget lines are now set, this would mean that the roughly $12,000 increase proposed by the budget committee to fund the 3 percent salary increases will not be spent for that purpose.

Commissioners set the salary increases for four elected officials: the Register of Probate, the Register of Deeds, the Treasurer and the Sheriff at 1 percent. Alternately, commissioners could meet with those four individuals to negotiate salaries over the course of their entire term, similar to how they negotiated with the Judge of Probate.

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14 Comments

  1. Thank you to Commissioner Barker and the budget committee for listening to their constituents’ needs and opinions, then restoring funding to WMTS and WMCA. Thank you to all involved for your time and hard work in what must be a very difficult process.

    In my opinion, the relatively small amounts requested will be of positive impact, in many ways, many times over.

    It appears I am not alone in my thinking.

  2. As a resident of the Town of Strong and a taxpayer to both Strong and the County I would like to thank Clyde Barker for sticking with those that he supports. It has become apparent that the majority of the Commissioners want to step over dollars to pick up dimes. Perhaps it is time that the Town’s that provide services to the Unorganized Territories use the dull pencil when the UT asks for services. Both Farmington and Wilton believe that the County should fund outside agencies. The use of the word “enabling” is out of place here. One has to believe that the only person who is not a “politician” is Clyde. As a former member of the Budget Committee I want the thank them also for doing the right thing.

  3. Personally, I’m thankful for WMCA! Not all residents who participate in this program are “enablers” and I take offence to even being categorized as such, Mr. Brann. As a widow, senior and little to no income after my husband passed, I would be unable to stay in my home without their help. They have done home improvements to help save energy and reduce my heating costs. I do not abuse the system, and simply want to remain in my home where I have lived (and paid taxes on) since I was 18 years old. As it is, I’m practically being taxed out of my home do to the ever increasing costs. I barely make ends meet or afford food on the table, but paying my bills is more important than eating some times. When elections come around, I will be certain to show you my gratitude with a vote, to anyone but you.

  4. Just to clarify. Almost everyone I know appreciates the good work done by Western Maine Community Action along with the other select group of social welfare programs that were funded by the property taxpayers of Franklin County. Nearly all those funds ( again a tax paid for by anyone who pays a property tax in Franklin County) are used for wages for those agencies. Many might be surprised to know that many of those agencies pay employees in excess of $100,000, many receive in excess of $80,000 and $90,000. These agencies do good work but the question is should the Social Security recipient living in Madrid or Strong pay higher property taxes so those agencies can continue to pay these high wages? I’m extremely concerned about those working people and retirees who struggle to pay their property taxes. Many have reached out to me and asked me to fight for their interests. I’m proud to do so. Without the adjustments made by the Commissioners and the Franklin County Budget Committee every property tax payer would have had to pay toward a $200,000 increase to keep our budget balanced. Working together we set priorities and spent your tax dollars as we felt was necessary. Perhaps with the knowledge that the recently retired director of WMCA received over $108,000 annually, might make it easier for many to understand our vote to set different spending priorities, spending your property taxes in a more efficient manner.

  5. Ah, the pathetic effort to use jealousy of wages paid (though I’m not sure I believe the figures given). Hint: markets set wages. While I do not trust the figures given, even if they’re true, there’s a reason: to get good, competent leadership you have to pay what the market demands. Unless Mr. Webster wants to embrace communism, he shouldn’t try to stir up jealousy against people whose skills earn them a decent living. After all, I suspect he earns more – and much of that money he earns probably comes from people on fixed incomes and social security too. For any organization to do well, you need competent leadership, and the cost of that is set by the market.

  6. Congratulations and thank you to the budget committee. Social services for the county, should be paid by all residents in the county, and umbrella agencies should not have to draw a line at each town, then request dollars from each, and then what? Draw a “no service” line around those towns or territories that do not provide some funding?

    As far as enabling goes, Mr Comissioners B and W: Enabled to get to the store? the doctor’s office? the dentist? to education services? I agree, enabling people to survive a bit better may be happening. Enabling people to reach up and pull themselves up in some cases. Enabling people to reach out and support others in some cases, and yes, enabling a few others to benefit, without working for it.

    Mr W and Mr B: where are the numbers you speak of? In these social agencies you refer to the top pay folks. How many work for each agencies? what is the pay distribution? What is the average pay and benefit package look like? The average please, not the cherry picked top.

    I am tired of hearing of the few situations that may not be right, and using those few to influence policy against the will of the majority.

    I own a couple of properties, and I say yes…fund the agencies!

  7. Federal and State programs provide a specific amount of dollars to pay for administration, wages, and overhead. The fact that these agencies are unable to operate the various programs based on the amounts given appears to be the reason that these agencies are requesting funds from the County. When the Jay paper mill was decreased in valuation the Franklin County budget lost approximately $200,000 in tax revenue. It’s easy to attack the Commissioners and Budget Committee for doing our job but that’s what we did. We looked at the County Budget and set priorities. The majority of us believed that adjusting spending made more sense than raising $200,000 in property taxes. Three years ago the Commissioners sent a letter to all effected agencies informing them that we would be fazing out funding over the next three years, giving them sufficient time to adjust their budgets or find funding elsewhere. As I wrote previously, the decision was much easier once the wage information was given to us. In quick response to Mr Erb, I really don’t care what these programs pay their management team. I’m just not willing to raise property taxes on Franklin County taxpayers simply because these agencies cannot operate their programs within the guidelines provided by the State and Federal Governments. Mr Erb’s comments shouldn’t surprise anyone, at least anyone who followed his record as a member of the SAD #9 school board.

  8. I appreciate Mr Webster providing some insight into his reasoning here. I don’t believe I’ve seen that articulated in other discussions of this issue.

    While I may disagree with the commissioner, at least it gives me a place to look to see what would be a more reasonable salary that he feels like he could support.

    I went to Maine.gov and found hundreds of positions and tried to winnow them down to make sure I was on the same page.

    Which positions and salary scales — steps and grades — were the commissioners using to make their judgment that these positions are way overpaid?

  9. Maybe not fact,but then most of the comments here are not based entirely on fact,but the cost of most of these agencies far out ways the value of their services.Mostly an option which may or not be shared by the DB therefore may not be published.

  10. Dan,

    I think the point he is making is that the county would be supportive to help programs operate, but we need to take a stand against funding salaries, and support programs only if anything….

  11. Governmental or private programs don’t run on ether or good will

    A warm body (paid/salaried) has to be in the mix (somewhere) to see that the ends are met as contemplated or advertised

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