[{"_1":2,"_97":-5,"_98":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6334049,"mediaKeyId","2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b","parentId",2299188,"title","Budget committee reviews capital purchases, TIF and reserves; staff proposes municipal infrastructure study","audioSeconds",1244,"startMs",4051000,"endMs",5295000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b&start=4051&end=5295","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b/thumbnail_4051000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6334049/Rangeley/Franklin-County/Maine/Budget-committee-reviews-capital-purchases-TIF-and-reserves-staff-proposes-municipal-infrastructure-study","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334049-8e07a1f250501784d283aefd8a6d4c8c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163513&Signature=GmVEp2qGq-kBYFqE9MmWfneeffIrbdVXJU4oWjOdVQUpAUiQmfOdq9EBu7p4Qy0FduW611ZIuHJsxiJ4640r1kVorb52spYzP4w~Y658Wz7bkclcFnlZMLqiKKZvMZmIaSt5EbCmuMYgewhJDa9ucNUNO9nQhTXZmQlROluhNx1-mXRBFybYLykrY~WJtCORET3AiQQbR2ULlulfqbSwLavE5BUiZfcDxtMWUkYMROg0f~HOpf1tS-MzV2VgQrNJEJ4M85OJv6uam33H6TViblOCPIcqN6eX6Cv1fVOgOvfwsTwkaGzByHnarytnZNn09mHNAGOEVNnhU4kvGMTexQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-12T12:19:43Z","article","Accounting consultant Mark Boyd reviewed FY2024 bookkeeping corrections, special revenue and reserve balances, and several capital proposals during the Feb. 11 budget meeting.

Boyd said he reconciled special revenue funds and starters, noting the town’s TIF fund balance had been $558,000 after allocations and that it will likely finish the fiscal year near $450,000 after planned Aquatic Park and fish-screen spending. He also reviewed the excise-reserve schedule used to pay road-project debt and said the reserve balances should cover scheduled debt service for the next several years as long as excise revenues remain stable.

Capital requests and facilities work

Committee members reviewed a list of capital proposals including SCBA equipment for the fire department, replacement passenger vans for parks and recreation, composite docks for the town park, vinyl plank flooring for the town office, parking-lot sealcoating and striping, and a gazebo for Town Park. Estimated quotes were presented for those items; for example, a dock proposal was discussed in the neighborhood of $58,000 (quote details to be confirmed) and flooring quotes referenced roughly $60,000 for heavy-duty vinyl plank covering the foyer, hallway and offices.

Transfer station project and financing

The transfer-station upgrade remains a major capital consideration. Boyd and staff discussed an engineering-driven plan with an estimate that could approach $1.1 million once engineering, design and construction are combined. Boyd suggested the town could use reserve funds to pay for engineering and design this year, then draw a construction loan next fiscal year, which would limit interest exposure to the period when construction funds are actually drawn.

Municipal infrastructure study

Town staff proposed a municipal infrastructure (needs-assessment) study, with an estimated budget item of about $30,000 in the proposed materials. The study would inventory space needs, evaluate options (including whether to move ambulance operations or police functions and to repurpose the current building for public safety), and provide design guidance to inform any larger construction or renovation projects.

TIF and sidewalk projects

Staff also outlined potential TIF projects and sidewalk engineering needs on Main Street and Green Street. The consultant warned that design scopes as currently drafted could cost more than grant awards will cover; the likely path is to build to grant-funded scope and hold further improvements as optional add-ons if local funds become available.

Budget timing and next steps

Boyd advised the committee that some budget items currently shown in the operating budget (for debt service) are already satisfied by reserves and thus could be removed from the tax-raise line to avoid double-counting. Committee members asked staff to provide clearer project scopes, quotes and a priority schedule so the board can weigh whether to fund designs now or delay construction until next year. No formal votes were recorded on the capital requests at the meeting.

Ending

Committee members asked staff to refine costs and schedules, identify possible grant matches, and return with revised project lists and impact analyses before the committee finalizes recommendations to the select board.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","BOS Budget Committee Joint Meeting 2 11 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The committee heard an accounting update from consultant Mark Boyd on special revenue funds, capital reserves and the tax-increment financing (TIF) fund, discussed waterfront dock and building-flooring capital requests, and considered a $30,000 municipal infrastructure study to evaluate space needs and options for town offices and public safety.","taxTitle","Rangeley, Franklin County , Maine","taxId",73952,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6334054,"Parks and recreation director seeks $61,000 van to expand programs, replace truck",833,2703000,3536000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b&start=2703&end=3536","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b/thumbnail_2703000.jpg","/articles/6334054/Rangeley/Franklin-County/Maine/Parks-and-recreation-director-seeks-61000-van-to-expand-programs-replace-truck","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334054-347fb1eeed9825da1d02ab32615a0e6d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163513&Signature=JidL7BumQRQ7CpA89-oB4nU9HGn45pX-GnIPMqLXGASn8UwxGlm16dx47I7SBFpYJboaZGC9f4IM~zr56hKGo3M0MXdvX31E6S2urnuOfuIqeq1DV2qvvtTAi1Zk~~sEMASAbmB2qiOyGv8w0DLDGFm8zdfPJn1d0qnPYkFNw8ltPyowzAhik6x3KuV19o~8UvXRhqoQfOXKx9L0irENK7iuHhZx~CypYLF4jQFl9Q9fdfahdf7FuDxSsQOS0yOvnlBZ31GCXGeKq6Gq9h2enIvSYyrEtzWJiPsQMncMAQgOOOnJKgPEgNSHyoOoOZGxMwi-l6mYZPpPCXXfekzNLA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pat, the parks and recreation director, asked the budget committee on Feb. 11 to approve a $61,000 capital purchase for a passenger van intended to replace one town vehicle and expand transportation options for recreation programming.

Pat said the van would be a multiuse vehicle: a primary transport for youth trips (hiking, sporting events), senior outings and director travel for program delivery. The proposal calls for disposing of the current F-150 (paid off) and placing proceeds into the capital reserve. The van price presented at the meeting was the total cost; Pat said trade-in or sale of the F-150 would be handled separately and the request did not factor a trade-in credit into the $61,000 figure.

Why it matters

Officials said improved transportation could let the recreation program offer more trips and reduce recurring rental costs. Committee members said they support strengthening the department but asked whether the purchase is a current capital priority or a convenience that could await a regular capital replacement cycle.

Questions from budget committee members

Committee members asked for specific usage and cost comparisons. Pat said current rental of a school bus costs about $354 for a trip to Portland (fuel not included) and that owning a van would reduce those recurring costs and expand programming capacity. The director said the existing F-150 still runs and has low miles, and that the van would effectively consolidate vehicles rather than immediately add a third town vehicle: if purchased, the F-150 would be sold or traded in.

Liability, training and operation

Pat said the town would use Maine Municipal Association training for drivers, require a Class C license for the vehicle (it would be under 26,000 pounds GVW) and adopt a town policy limiting drivers (for example, 21+ and documented training). Committee members asked about wear from moving equipment, passenger liability and how frequently the van would be used; Pat said those operational policies would be developed if the purchase proceeds.

No vote recorded; capital plan concerns

The budget committee did not vote at the meeting. Several members urged that the purchase be reconciled with the town’s capital plan and suggested a clearer cost-benefit analysis and a usage log (rental costs avoided, trips per year) before recommending final approval.

Ending

Pat said the objective is to expand programming, better serve seniors and youth, and reduce rental costs; committee members asked the director to provide documented trip counts, rental expenses and a clearer replacement schedule for the existing truck before the committee makes a recommendation to the select board.","The parks and recreation director proposed purchasing a $61,000 passenger van to replace an aging F-150, saying it would expand recreational transport and lower rental costs; budget committee members asked for usage data and urged alignment with the capital plan.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":90,"_47":91,"_49":92,"_51":93,"_53":94,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":95,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":96,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6334059,"Ambulance provider warns towns of larger subsidy after insurance reimbursement changes",0,3281000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b&start=3281&end=3281","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2299188-7d24519b1cf343159eaf6bc99481545b/thumbnail_3281000.jpg","/articles/6334059/Rangeley/Franklin-County/Maine/Ambulance-provider-warns-towns-of-larger-subsidy-after-insurance-reimbursement-changes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6334059-105f818f6a8fa1082c51907006b23347/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163513&Signature=Yu8eXpnjhXH~e9L9MMMFuTfDUCJUfR4Mt5wH~RFGen5rhKKtVOCOJpR4yiTnLiri4igQ2y9GWVuBaw1BLQ5dsAInK5Y8r8OO1olgk18ZOy7Xl~8r1p1NlhwUQWPIlYzoakNlCUXV0DDaMMliPjvGjrLjvYFtN0LWIeTDqkD4FxDUKjWQrVcew8Q6X~h-9Ul0Be~0IG0DG1nkwWA3mj8gSUrKAXevJAoGswyBuN0ncRuKAEpkdNjFT9x9aMFNWTBSA5V4uJk6z6jZE~qYLT~Hp1r9B6hv5GI92o-FuWoUWKk~swcqxvIp4TL54D~ErTdDsiz~U7P-rZ~N0o74U84zNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Steve Smith, a representative of All Star (North Star) ambulance service, told the Rangeley budget committee on Feb. 11 that changes in insurer reimbursement and lower-than-expected collections have left the service projecting a much larger operating shortfall and that the company is asking member towns to increase subsidies.

Smith said the provider had expected to collect a substantially larger share of billed ambulance charges but is now “only collecting about 30¢ on a dollar,” a decline he traced in part to a change that limits many private insurers to paying 200% of the Medicare rate for ambulance services. He said that change, together with higher operating costs and growing call volumes, contributed to an actual loss of about $1.2 million last year and to a planned budget that now assumes an $800,000 loss for the current fiscal year.

The ambulance service bills per-call and per-transport rates and historically relied on private insurance reimbursements to offset low Medicare payments, Smith said. He used a simplified example: Medicare pays roughly $350 for a typical ambulance transport and pays a lower per-mile rate; private payers used to cover a significantly higher share of billed charges but now often pay only about double Medicare’s payment, reducing the offset the provider can count on from private plans.

Town subsidy and formula changes

Smith said the provider presented the shortfall and several proposed changes to its advisory board, which includes local town leaders. The recommended approach includes adjustments to the subsidy formula (which uses tax valuation and per-capita elements) and increases in the per-person and “sit-at-the-table” fees that towns pay. The provider mailed letters in December giving municipalities until April 1 to opt in or out of the adjusted formula; opting in requires no action by the town.

Why the story matters

Local officials and residents rely on ambulance coverage for emergency medical response and interfacility transfers. The provider’s financial shortfall — if not reduced through subsidies, rate changes or other measures — could affect staffing decisions, coverage patterns and how frequently neighboring services must cover calls.

Key details and context

- Call volume: Smith said the system’s annual calls have risen from about 4,000–5,000 two decades ago to roughly 7,500 calls a year across the service area. Roughly 400 calls are associated with the Rangeley area coverage discussed in the meeting.
- Collections and losses: Smith said the service budgeted last year to lose about $400,000 but the actual loss was closer to $1.2 million. For the current budget year it is budgeting an $800,000 loss; Smith said the hospital will absorb a portion but the towns will see higher subsidy requests.
- Insurance change: Smith said many private insurers are now required to pay only 200% of Medicare reimbursement; that policy change reduced average collections on billed ambulance charges across the system.
- Medicare and MaineCare behavior: Smith described Medicare’s fixed fee schedule and lower mileage payments and said that MaineCare generally matches Medicare’s lower payments, leaving more of the service’s billed amounts uncompensated.
- Staffing: Smith said the service is “almost 100% staffed” regionally but noted local vacancies and recent overtime driven by injuries and a paramedic leaving for nursing. He described staffing strategies — including salaried managers filling shifts and a pool of PRN EMTs — aimed at keeping ambulances available in remote locations.
- Response-time benchmark: For Rangeley-area calls, Smith reported an average time from tone to on-scene at about 12 minutes and 53 seconds for the wider coverage area; he said that figure compares favorably to national rural standards and that response times inside Rangeley proper would be shorter but he did not supply a town-only average.

Comments from local officials

Budget committee members pressed Smith on staffing details, overtime exposure and whether the town’s tax valuation should be the primary driver of subsidy allocations. Several officials urged closer examination of dispatch procedures and of whether mountain resorts and other businesses that generate seasonal demand should contribute more to coverage costs.

No formal vote recorded

The meeting record does not show a committee motion or final vote on a subsidy change at this session. Smith said his staff will supply data to towns and that towns can opt into the revised formula or ask for additional detail before taking action.

Ending

Smith offered to return to follow up with data and to meet with individual towns during the budget season. Budget committee members requested more detailed call-by-call data and indicated they will review the provider’s letters and the advisory board’s recommendations before deciding on local appropriations.","North Star (All Star) ambulance told the Rangeley-area budget committee that lower-than-expected collections and new private-insurer payment limits have pushed its projected annual loss higher, and that the service is asking towns to share a larger subsidy to maintain coverage and staffing.","actionData","errors"]

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Budget committee reviews capital purchases, TIF and reserves; staff proposes municipal infrastructure study

Parks and recreation director seeks $61,000 van to expand programs, replace truck

Ambulance provider warns towns of larger subsidy after insurance reimbursement changes