South Berwick council advances FY26 budget that includes start-up funds to create staffed fire-based EMS

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 the town would aim to take over ambulance operations on July 1, 2026, noting the first year includes only a few months of full-time salary in the FY26 budget.

Council members said they weighed multiple scenarios. The council said it considered 12 permutations before choosing a scenario that adds the EMS/fire program, reduces the capital improvement program contribution by about half for one year, and draws $1,000,000 from the undesignated fund. Under that scenario the council said the net amount to be collected from taxpayers would increase by $672,521, which the chair characterized as a 6.67% year-over-year increase in the municipal portion of the tax levy.

Town Manager Tim and Chief Hamill told the council the rationale: private ambulance coverage has become less reliable and more costly for small towns, and a fire-based EMS model is being adopted by a number of Maine communities. Chief Hamill said the municipal model would allow the town to control operations and stabilize service over the long term, adding that ambulance billing can offset some costs but is not expected to produce a profit.

At the meeting the council voted, 4-1, to approve the FY26 draft expense budget for placement on the town meeting warrant and, by a separate 5-0 vote, to approve the draft revenue budget. The council also approved town-warrant language and set the annual town meeting for May 20 at Central School, where voters will consider final adoption of the budget.

Councilors emphasized different priorities in debate. Some councilors described the change as necessary to protect essential services and to avoid more costly remedies later; others said they were mindful of the tax impact on residents and sought to limit near-term pain by tapping the undesignated fund and temporarily reducing CIP contributions.

The council repeatedly characterized the EMS/fire initiative as a long-term public-safety investment that carries startup financial risk in the first two years but could stabilize costs thereafter. Chief Hamill said the department's plan assumes a phased transition, with the town paying existing contract costs in FY26 while beginning municipal operations and fully incorporating staffing costs in the next fiscal year.

The town manager said the proposed FY26 budget is being forwarded for resident vote at the May 20 annual town meeting and urged residents to review the budget materials and attend that meeting.