[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6318187,"mediaKeyId","2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322","parentId",2367991,"title","Councilors ask staff to review tax-foreclosure proceeds after Karst property sale","audioSeconds",470,"startMs",2327000,"endMs",2797000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322&start=2327&end=2797","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322/thumbnail_2327000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6318187/Maine/Councilors-ask-staff-to-review-tax-foreclosure-proceeds-after-Karst-property-sale","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318187-57bf5dd67da920cd4403a9bb80c68c33/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094173&Signature=MnWApfGnGaWfnwNdJbdzw8jfmJ-oXpZx4RVRK8jKiexqhnNKMOXOog9LagpNdfuRAkh97HvZY1JPayeLWNClVWvzGjN66ULG~1HGsqSaR76BiWNIwqpoQm5mz7J-nBIXZHp8riZGNdxHQ~xeHXDkHpUa~63btLIN7-bSCJqKBAzFamT04sRMQq90LRmJaYDEdfnLkeVt863afgmVxILzjN5XuxNVtj8brwkAzC-z7iRHqIBfEd~V6U123hCpXcd8n0emseAakPGkYeWZ1iYCIB2bZ5SzwKEeP4zKlj1h5MB18NZLIFYgmhtmSA7L2SO58IG8Bwxj3szJScB5h52JMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-02-14T15:24:46Z","article","Several councilors and a resident raised concerns Feb. 14 about the distribution of proceeds from tax-foreclosed property sales, citing a specific case (the Karst property) in which auction proceeds exceeded outstanding taxes and related costs.

Steve said the Karst property sold at auction for about $150,000 while the taxes, fees and collection costs amounted to roughly $20,000, leaving roughly $115,000 in net proceeds. He said the city retained the proceeds under the law in effect at the time and asked whether recent court decisions require the city to return net proceeds to former owners.

Patrick, the city attorney, said a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision and state-level statutory changes mean municipalities can no longer profit from tax foreclosures in the same way; however, he said the case is not retroactive. He explained that if the city still owns property when the new law or court guidance becomes effective, proceeds from future sales should be distributed to former owners after the city recovers its costs, but sales that were completed before the decision are not automatically subject to the new rule.

What the committee asked staff to do
Charlie and other staff said the city assessor is carrying a SMART goal to catalog city-owned properties and identify those acquired through tax liens. The committee asked staff to produce an accounting of city-held properties, clarify legal exposure for past sales and propose options for handling proceeds or restitution where applicable. Members asked for a fuller report and proposed that this inventory and legal analysis be presented to council in May.

Context cited at the meeting
Speakers said the tax-foreclosure code previously allowed municipalities to retain proceeds after foreclosure. Committee members said that recent legal changes have altered that practice in many states, and they requested staff analysis of which sales are affected and what administrative steps would be needed to return proceeds in cases where the law requires it.

Ending
Staff committed to compile property and sales data, legal analysis and options for council consideration. The committee scheduled a follow-up briefing in May to discuss accounting, possible restitution and policy changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Finance Committee Meeting - February 14th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Councilors asked staff to research whether net proceeds from tax-foreclosed property sales should be returned to prior owners after recent court and statutory developments, citing a local auction of the Karst property as an example.","taxTitle","Finance Committee, Ellsworth, Hancock, Maine","taxId",70091,"location","Maine","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6318196,"Finance committee finalizes budget workshop schedule, aims to post budget book April 14",1400,0,1400000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322&start=0&end=1400","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6318196/Maine/Finance-committee-finalizes-budget-workshop-schedule-aims-to-post-budget-book-April-14","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318196-40de94808cd7d31f9932e48f25fe05f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094173&Signature=GPil2k7h~XyQy9IVHMzmezcM3iIlmsACtqOA5zcxg-5IFoJCKWmjqvILHLLbR7xr~psMRiL0JLEg-CAnI20CV5wMse0rP2ZEkdLVxItisdZ8B8uVsZlZTV4SXR0fvt2~T6LCPeMESPPvd~fHj2UuI1NivwB9eNHtNnAq47vYBzuWKyURg4FPUBDSp8~g8qsKNXjxGoDqpPnIjXdgJVwkOuIUb1tIOH61bBPTqFanjndB44jmM5sAhx-xC-9wj-0oQ3QqInx~IziHIpwp9j~j6NdlYsAX6D8~48Yg6lB3n6czYBNKdM3hQTvEpBZ1y0DuZ-IvXO9qgzZBn1gNMV-9vg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Finance Committee met Feb. 14 to set a calendar and process for the city's fiscal 2025-26 budget, agreeing on a series of department review meetings, three public workshops and target dates for posting and council action.

Committee members said the schedule is designed to give councilors and the public time to review a manager-level budget before a planned council vote in April. Nate, a finance team member, said early work is already under way: \"It's February 14, and we're already starting the budget process.\" Charlie, who outlined broader timeline goals and staff responsibilities, said staff aim to upload a final proposed budget book electronically by April 14 so councilors and residents have time to review before an April 21 council vote.

Why it matters: The committee framed the schedule to align the municipal budget with the school district's budget timeline so both can be considered together. Schools require separate approval steps; the committee agreed the school presentation should come to council earlier than originally scheduled.

Committee decisions and schedule details
- Department head review meetings are planned Feb. 24\u001327. Charlie said those sessions will include manager recommendations for each department.
- Three public workshops were set: March 13, March 20 and April 3, all starting at 6 p.m. after committee members agreed to retain the community's customary 6 p.m. start time instead of 5:30 p.m.
- The school budget presentation to council was moved to Tuesday, March 25 (replacing a previously scheduled school workshop), so the council can consider school and municipal budgets together in advance of the school board's April 8 vote.
- Staff aim to post an electronic version of the proposed final budget by April 14 and print copies the following week, giving councilors a weekend to review before the April 21 council meeting where final consideration is planned.

Supporting details and staffing
Nate reported year-to-date financial reporting and reconciliation work is ongoing and that reconciled payroll accounting for police overtime had been corrected in January. Charlie and other staff said the newly implemented Cassell system and additional spreadsheets will improve data quality for line-by-line review.

The committee also discussed how a completed reconciliation will allow for formal encumbering of funds and clearer decisions about undesignated fund balances, restricted TIF accounts and reserve accounts such as sums previously set aside for Knowlton Park and other playgrounds. Charlie said the city will revisit reserve-account structure after reconciliation to consider consolidation or forward-funding capital needs.

Capital planning and staffing
Deputy City Manager Sarah, starting full-time next week after two introductory days, will lead updates to the 1-, 5- and 10-year capital improvement plan, which staff said has been dormant for several years. The capital plan will inform future bonding, reserve decisions and debt-service projections.

Next steps and council direction
Committee members asked staff to post the schedule and notify councilors and the public. Charlie said staff will upload draft materials in March for workshop review, incorporate council feedback during the March/April workshops, and post the proposed final budget electronically by April 14. Members emphasized they want the manager-level budget available before the council meeting billed for a potential vote on April 21.

Ending
Staff left the committee with tasks: continue reconciliations, finalize department review meetings, post draft materials in mid-March and work with the school district on the March 25 presentation. Committee members said they will use the March workshops for line-by-line policies and expect several intensive nights of meetings as the schedule advances.","The Finance Committee met Feb. 14 to set workshops, posting dates and a council review schedule aimed at presenting a manager-level budget to the full council by April 21, with an electronic final budget book targeted for April 14.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6318192,"Resident raises panhandling concerns; committee agrees to research enforcement of Chapter 11, §104",485,1823000,2308000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322&start=1823&end=2308","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2367991-7ec18e42b77b37ff9c6be747c008f322/thumbnail_1823000.jpg","/articles/6318192/Maine/Resident-raises-panhandling-concerns-committee-agrees-to-research-enforcement-of-Chapter-11-104","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318192-5623ff406bfdaed876882e7adc8c9a96/orig.mp4?Expires=1771094173&Signature=cjqRFd10FjrsVuzVqfvN2HC~5Y8HxPgFIoyA59nOWRORUD9Q~79muSqLV~uWyfK0EfrhvJSfLL76JPMmrI6Qq1r3HpEBi1CV9qXbkzLNB9v1wxZ0olgob4iITtvIGCP2DnOcg-m8qt0x6Mm0fTnvYqNTJJ8~EqUMlWVzpvo90GcLcaqKEK9-fEbsAYzDyfSN1M1-Uo0wkHBS1ofqG5FqFUXI9D-swFwU71Tkc0FcxwsFvC~gRzcn27d~rr~VkL16-dqdtLuE~ezuxfgJI4NqdU65ddFoz3G9qwF-julPyYJe7-xAKo7k1ODNWzKV5uq1i~2eSJYr~jH0w-ESUIqUMw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A resident asked the Finance Committee on Feb. 14 to review enforcement of a long-standing local ordinance that prohibits begging in public places, saying panhandling had become frequent at several downtown corners and near commercial properties.

Jared, who identified himself as a resident, cited \"Ordinance Chapter 11, section 104\" and asked the committee whether the city would enforce the ordinance. He said panhandling \"doesn't look the best if we're trying to jazz up the city,\" and described a recent incident in which a person in a wheelchair positioned near moving equipment in a parking lot.

City Manager Charlie (as referenced) and Patrick, the city attorney, told the resident the city would review the ordinance and consult police. Patrick noted constitutional considerations and said the recent case law landscape affects enforcement options. Charlie invited the resident to email staff and said the police department should be called when safety or public-right-of-way issues arise.

What the committee asked staff to do
Committee members asked staff to research the ordinance, constitutional limits and enforcement practices and to bring the matter to a future council meeting. The committee agreed to place the item on the April agenda for a full discussion so staff could bring legal analysis and recommended approaches.

Context and enforcement practice
Patrick said officers currently \"move them along\" when residents report panhandling, which often results in individuals moving to sidewalks or other nearby locations. Committee members noted the ordinance dates to 1975 and has not been amended. Patrick said the U.S. Supreme Court jurisprudence and state precedent affect whether a municipality may prohibit solicitation in public spaces.

Ending
Staff were asked to research constitutional questions and enforcement options and to prepare an April briefing for the council that would include police input and possible policy options.","A resident asked the committee to review enforcement of Ordinance Chapter 11, Section 104 (prohibiting begging in public places). Committee members agreed to research constitutional and operational issues and to place the topic on an April agenda for full council discussion.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Councilors ask staff to review tax-foreclosure proceeds after Karst property sale

Finance committee finalizes budget workshop schedule, aims to post budget book April 14

Resident raises panhandling concerns; committee agrees to research enforcement of Chapter 11, §104