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South Berwick council advances FY26 budget that includes start-up funds to create staffed fire-based EMS
Summary
At a public hearing and subsequent vote, the South Berwick Town Council approved draft FY26 expense and revenue budgets that include start-up costs to establish a staffed fire and EMS service, a temporary reduction to capital contributions, and use of undesignated funds to limit the property-tax impact.
The South Berwick Town Council approved draft fiscal year 2026 expense and revenue budgets after a public hearing, advancing the measures to the town's annual meeting on May 20. The expense budget totals $11,368,696 and the council said it will use $1,000,000 from the town's undesignated fund and reduce one-year contributions to capital-improvement accounts to help absorb start-up costs for a staffed fire-and-EMS service.
The draft budget that the council approved at its April meeting includes one-time and operating startup costs to stand up municipal fire-based emergency medical services, with the town manager and fire chief outlining a plan to move to a 24/7 staffed model. Chief Hamill described a 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week staffing approach with two people on duty per shift and said…
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