[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6248610,"mediaKeyId","3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef","parentId",3209752,"title","Council reviews FY26 budget highlights: revenue opportunities, rescue billing and insurance oversight proposal","audioSeconds",975,"startMs",2091000,"endMs",3066000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef&start=2091&end=3066","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef/thumbnail_2091000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6248610/Maine/Council-reviews-FY26-budget-highlights-revenue-opportunities-rescue-billing-and-insurance-oversight-proposal","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248610-7b2425ef2d3a210cc352ebf558aa4163/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435378&Signature=fp3RPxkUDEH0G~VyNA3RJ0dWsQPi2iKnLzwjskscPftwpgkVv0~DFs~4Y5Ywg68PyR1nC282yQ8795Jr8ZHTV1ocdnKLgyXc1B-abfGWU1VNh-rJ8RWGyNmW9OjCXZ4cVBvHxkRwkn3LtMvDYg6uTb-cl7zEG-HQ2mjmAwYKyICaJTvI7kfhEpzQX2p6FIhfXENnYH4WV4e88p6PeCT-nOWxYvGIYM-BHq6EMiR3OgbhWJM75czuFL~IE3IvFLo2Mqni1TXmoxwnxwiFtv0-0NKrTy~kZxwLOE73GE0ByeRiH4lJ~ZYOzTINth~KkRYZcZm9O~W1B1K-5wjnlPoSUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Town of Cumberland, Maine","date","2025-05-07T12:34:04.583Z","article","Town staff reviewed budget highlights and possible revenue options for fiscal 2026 and councilors raised several administrative items, including a proposal for a small insurance oversight committee, increased travel/training line items for public safety leadership, and plans to pursue rescue billing and other pay‑for‑service opportunities.

Helene, a finance staff member, and Matt, the town manager, told the council there are no direct federal dollars in this year’s budget. Staff said some state library grant funding reductions had caused brief service pauses at the state level but had no direct financial impact on the town’s FY26 proposal.

On revenue opportunities, staff and councilors discussed expanding rescue billing (ambulance/rescue service charges) and charging for certain out‑of‑town incidents on high‑use corridors (Route 1, I‑295, the turnpike). A council member argued that multi‑hour commercial vehicle incidents generate billable costs for absorbents, staffing and traffic control and urged pursuing those collections more consistently. Staff said they recently increased rescue rates as of May 1 and are exploring further billing and rate adjustments.

Councilors also questioned several line items. One councilor noted the police travel/training account rose from about $162 to $7,500; staff explained that some training costs formerly held in the manager’s budget were moved into the police budget and that both the chief and deputy chief have national‑level conference attendance in the current year’s plan.

A proposal for a small insurance oversight committee drew debate. Some councilors said external expertise could help review insurance renewals and options; others worried about scope creep, conflicts of interest and overburdening finance staff. The manager and finance staff said the town typically goes to market infrequently for insurance to avoid volatility and that last year’s renewal effort began in January–February. Staff suggested any outside review be coordinated with the finance committee or done via invited subject‑matter presentations rather than creating a new standing committee.

On timing, staff said the town’s share of the mill rate will be clearer after the school district vote this week and final commitment in August; as of this workshop, staff estimated a 2.7% net town impact before accounting for assessor valuation growth, which could lower the effective rate.

Staff and councilors identified follow‑ups: continue outreach on the trash/cart program, report quarterly on revenue metrics, provide the TIF modeling requested by the council, and return with a recommended approach to insurance review that limits scope and avoids undue workload for staff. No formal changes to the budget were adopted at this workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cumberland Town Council Budget Workshop - May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At a budget workshop, staff outlined potential revenue opportunities including rescue/billing changes and pay‑for‑service responses on state roads; councilors debated an insurance oversight committee, police travel line increases and timing for mill‑rate estimates tied to the school vote.","taxTitle","Town Council , Cumberland Center, Cumberland County, Maine","taxId",69260,"location","Maine","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6248615,"Council asks staff for TIF 1 extension analysis; June presentation targeted for decision window",224,3508000,3732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef&start=3508&end=3732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef/thumbnail_3508000.jpg","/articles/6248615/Maine/Council-asks-staff-for-TIF-1-extension-analysis-June-presentation-targeted-for-decision-window","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248615-30a5f4666330edd34b7bf3d7d744b46e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770403653&Signature=F3KVUefpOvkk~izv5kay2r2TWPFSC9QlkW3aTp81etRnEH-2mswLZZOzCc3L9T0AHaJVGCyk5HQEZvaCYXMfR~F1~esCtiprVwA2yYDiPS4YXa0orYUEUm7d72s1EbR0F-UvCMD28H8fRwBQv6WGXejxd~CCRsl9Uxpe9tVuamw3Hd9CRJ72xfz9smVDEv6bjTdUvxYsW3N9opsdS8o3KHSUtK-99FXM1xZBJCEBstWYjVIUrfPfRiFY~iTi5Ex1ni3Z77fISCAmLe6X3PSByYJ0TBHb0N3nDnWi4smw1IMjlQuiF~hQjCf12UbqEyycrr3OvptBt7osYM-YiM7Vxg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council members directed staff to provide detailed modeling and scenario analysis on a potential extension of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District 1 and asked for a near‑term presentation so the council can consider action before certain economic development windows close.

A council member said Alyssa Tibbets is preparing forecasting and modeling work on the TIF extension and potential investment tied to the extension. “If we could get something, we'd like to have something possibly ready for a council action in June,” a staff member said.

Staff explained the legal context discussed in the meeting: recent state guidance ties extensions to priorities such as affordable housing or transit, and one requirement mentioned is that 75% of captured revenue must support affordable housing or transportation for an extension to meet current state parameters. Staff said the town can amend the TIF area (shrink, flex or move parcels) and that throttling (capturing only part of growth in a given year) is an available tool to manage revenue timing.

Councilors emphasized the need for comprehensive scenario planning. One council member asked the modeling include second‑ and third‑order effects—how restoring TIF revenue to the general fund would alter school funding formulas, county taxes and state revenue sharing. Staff said those tax‑shift impacts are part of the modeling and that extending the district would affect the town’s obligations under the school funding formula and other state calculations.

Members also discussed timing: an economic development prospect may need a decision within about 60 days to move forward, which is why staff sought a June presentation. Several councilors asked for time to review and digest modeling before any final vote.

No formal vote was taken at the workshop; staff were directed to return with an Alyssa Tibbets presentation and detailed fiscal modeling and to outline potential legal and revenue impacts, including options to throttle captured revenue or amend the district’s boundaries.","Councilors asked planning/finance staff for modeling on extending Tax Increment Financing District 1, including revenue shifts and throttling options; staff expects a June presentation to inform a possible council action.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6248620,"Cumberland delays decision on truck-mounted trash cameras, will monitor bag revenue and roll out new cans",321,594000,915000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef&start=594&end=915","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3209752-26161fe8d43c9d5fe9e05d4eb3bfc2ef/thumbnail_594000.jpg","/articles/6248620/Maine/Cumberland-delays-decision-on-truck-mounted-trash-cameras-will-monitor-bag-revenue-and-roll-out-new-cans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6248620-f7243e2d89d24a2e2fb7f7088ade60a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1770435378&Signature=b05kWb-OijH9UnAmClu2cs0NFP0eTB89eD-P-jHHlFgfqCPCsCGmpSDpJc2uUcwRwl8WK1LDMzla1RNoxWvuefn05CSEg4Hz8o-W~zPsYKV00EuQJPoq16zoXtwz7PThE4LjO47UTnzP-~RNb0VCytofdxdjSWxBP3rzHu5ggVhpNMryAIdyGPvmZd~UfGNtRrRY1Hdv90RCHNzvmL6LwVqn0LFHVCpnyC8L~5NE0ZVUfY5Ze6lZxwk62k~yitCteicF8i1dtxQg2MzFkwWuuR5Jgq81R~WSaocwR4mvRg1zKdd6LbBBFtflrkgkTSGObrhkXrbw3M3wALpsLAbs7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Town staff discussed a proposal to add truck-mounted cameras to curbside collection trucks and recommended delaying a purchase while the town monitors bag-sales revenue once new carts are delivered.

Chris, a staff member, told the council the camera system would cost about $35,000 and could be amortized over the remaining four years of the town’s current contract “which comes to around $8,700 a year.” He said the camera takes a photo at each stop and the vendor’s software flags images that do not match the town’s green bag standard and then emails daily potential violations with the address.

The town would have to assign staff to review flagged images and then adopt an ordinance or enforcement policy to act on any violations. “The town will now have to provide staff to review this, and then we would need to come up with an ordinance or policies of how we take it from there,” Chris said.

Staff described how neighboring North Yarmouth handled enforcement: warning by phone, then a card, and removal of a can after repeated violations, with an appeal process. North Yarmouth reported a drop to “probably 2 or 3 a week” of noncompliant pickups, though some flagged images were false positives, staff said.

Councilors and staff raised operational and cost concerns. A council member identified as Ronald said in his experience vehicle-mounted cameras often fail in rain or snow: “When it rains, they don't work. When it snows, they're covered with snow,” he said. Other councilors noted side‑loader truck mechanics and weather could impair camera performance.

Several councilors said the town can instead track bag revenues and compliance after the transition to standardized carts and bags. Staff said every household will receive two carts and that the carts are about 35 gallons; residents who want an additional cart must request it and pay Casella, the hauler. Chris said carts will begin to be delivered within the next week or two in anticipation of a possible July 1 rollout, and Casella will assist with notifications.

Councilors settled on monitoring performance and revenues before committing to cameras. Staff proposed tracking bag sales and related revenues on a three‑month rolling schedule, with a report back to the council and the option to implement cameras if the town sees sustained revenue leakage. “We could look at it for 6 months … and evaluate,” Chris said, while others argued for an earlier quarterly check. One councilor summarized the group’s sense as delaying a camera decision for an initial three‑month/quarterly monitoring period and then reconsidering if revenue targets are not met.

Staff also emphasized outreach: “We need to ramp up the communication on the fact that the bags aren't going away,” one council member said, noting public confusion about whether bags would be required under the new cart system.

The meeting included procedural and operational questions about spare bins, compostable or recycled-content bags, and the short‑term staffing impact of noncamera enforcement (boots on the ground). Staff said they will provide more details on bin sizes, rollout timing, and a three‑month revenue monitoring plan to the council.

The discussion closed with the council directing staff to proceed with cart delivery and community outreach, monitor bag sales and compliance on a quarterly basis beginning with the new carts, and report back to the council with data; no purchase order or ordinance was approved during the meeting.","Town staff described a proposed truck-mounted camera system to identify noncompliant trash; councilors agreed to defer a purchase decision and instead monitor bag sales and revenues after new carts are delivered, with a quarterly/three-month review planned.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council reviews FY26 budget highlights: revenue opportunities, rescue billing and insurance oversight proposal

Council asks staff for TIF 1 extension analysis; June presentation targeted for decision window

Cumberland delays decision on truck-mounted trash cameras, will monitor bag revenue and roll out new cans