Rangeley budget committee closes public hearing and approves department recommendations; several measures pass 4-1

RANGELEY, Maine — The Rangeley Budget Committee closed its public hearing on the town budget at its April 3 meeting and voted on department recommendation totals after more than nine committee sessions and public review.

The committee reviewed color-coded department pages and line-item changes, then voted to accept adjustments where the Board of Selectmen had recommended decreases while otherwise retaining the budget committee’s previously voted recommendations. Ashley moved the amendment to match Selectmen-recommended decreases on affected line items; Mark seconded and the motion carried 4–1 after discussion about priorities for public safety and parks and recreation.

Why it matters: the committee’s recommendations will be forwarded to the Board of Selectmen as the committee’s formal advice on the town budget. The meeting covered several large year-over-year changes, including substantial requested increases for police, planning and finance that affect the town’s spending baseline and reserve planning.

Key figures discussed by the committee (amounts and year-over-year change as presented to the committee): - Selectmen office request: $82,965, an increase the chair read as 1.79% (transcript wording unclear on the exact dollar increase). - Administration: committee request $203,723 (increase $14,927 or 4.99%). The committee later set its recommended administration total at $308,325 during votes. - Assessing: $81,505 (decrease of $161, about a 0.20% decrease as presented). - Finance: $158,181 (increase of $41,272 or 35.3%), noted to reflect a new contract CPA. - Planning: $206,314 (increase $52,578 or 34.2%), primarily to add a part‑time deputy code enforcement officer tied to new mooring/ enforcement duties. - Town office building: $117,944 (increase $30,373 or 34.7%). - Public Safety building: $53,210 (increase $4,340 or 8.9%). - Town clerk: $105,486 (increase $31,569 or 42.7%), largely in health insurance/benefits lines. - Property/casualty insurance (pooled line): $73,007.54 (increase $6,093 or ~9.1%). - Fire Rescue: $451,120 (increase $21,006 or 5.0%). The committee later set a recommended total of $447,953 in the vote sequence. - Police: $705,944 (increase $232,494 or 49.1%). The committee later set a recommended police total of $702,218. - Animal control: $7,754 (increase $733 or 10.4%). - EMS ambulance: contract increase of $49,003.42 (increase explained as towns sharing a portion of a provider deficit). - Fire hydrants (contract): $161,009.89 (no change reported from the prior number). - Highway: $861,316 (increase $24,635 or 2.94%), reflecting a multi‑year union wage contract. - Sewer: $503,604 (increase $38,061 or 8.18%). - Solid waste / transfer station: $529,178 (increase $39,427 or 8.05%). Committee discussion included a growing solid‑waste reserve and possible future transfer‑station improvements. - Airport: $49,828 (increase $3,058 or 6.54%), largely a stipend change for the airport manager. - Parks & Recreation: $307,915 (increase $11,589), with wages and supplies as the largest increases. - Cemetery: $35,653 (decrease $6,900 or 16.22%). - Comfort stations: Rangeley Comfort Station $20,533 (increase $512 or 2.56%); Aquatic Comfort Station $17,018 (increase $512 or 3.1%). - Culture: $15,550 (decrease $470 or 2.93%). - General assistance: unchanged at $2,000. - Donations to nonprofits: $236,655 (decrease $272 or 0.11%). - Capital purchases: $175,560 (decrease $4,009.40 or 2.74%). - Reserve account requests: $455,000 (increase $50,000 or 12.35%), explained as driven largely by a higher solid‑waste reserve request and future transfer‑station work. - Rangeley Health Ride: $5,600 (increase $100 or 1.82%). - Debt service/ debt fund payment: $203,967 (presented as a consolidated payment across departments). - Franklin County tax: the committee used a placeholder of $1,342,088 (a 10% increase placeholder, $122,008) until final numbers are provided by the county. - Town of Rangeley school allocation: finalized during the meeting at $3,916,915, described on the record as a 0.1% decrease from the prior allocation; committee members noted the allocation reflects each town’s per‑pupil share.

Discussion highlights and clarifications - Planning staffing: the planning increase was explained as funding a second part‑time deputy code enforcement officer because of additional duties tied to the mooring ordinance and enforcement workload. - Finance: committee members noted the finance increase reflects a newly contracted CPA and a reallocation of responsibilities. - Buildings and capital: committee members discussed near‑term building repairs (flooring, doors, parking lot/striping) and the idea of developing a dedicated buildings reserve after an engineering/needs assessment informs long‑term priorities. - TIF funds and solid waste: staff said TIF (Tax Increment Financing) funds are not directly available to cover solid‑waste reserve costs unless the town demonstrates a proportionate need tied to activity within the TIF district; the short answer provided to the committee was “no,” with a longer, more complex path if the town chooses to pursue it later. - Contracts and external costs: committee members were told EMS and hydrant costs come from contracts that drive increases; the highway increase stems from a multiyear union contract signed previously.

Dissent and rationale Committee member Joan spoke against the motion to accept the Selectmen-matching decreases on some lines, saying she was “the the lone ranger on this 1 and be against this motion,” and arguing the town should support record salary increases for public‑safety positions and for the parks & recreation director’s proposed salary because of program growth and demonstrated community need.

Votes at a glance - Approve minutes (March 6): motion by Mark, second Jim; outcome: approved (unanimous; tally 5–0). - Approve minutes (March 10): motion by Mark, second Jim; outcome: approved (unanimous; tally 5–0). - Approve minutes (March 11): motion by Mark, second Jim; outcome: approved (unanimous; tally 5–0). - Motion to amend committee recommendations to match Board of Selectmen decreases on those line items while keeping other previously voted committee recommendations (motion by Ashley; second by Mark): outcome passed 4–1. - Budget committee recommendation — Administration $308,325 (motion by Mark; second noted on record): outcome passed 4–1. - Budget committee recommendation — Planning $199,413 (motion by Mark; second noted): outcome passed 4–1. - Budget committee recommendation — Fire Rescue $447,953 (motion by Mark; second noted): outcome passed 4–1. - Budget committee recommendation — Police $702,218 (motion by Mark; second noted): outcome passed 4–1. - Budget committee recommendation — $304,677 (motion made on the floor with amount read as $304,677; motion and second recorded on the transcript): outcome passed 4–1. - Motion to adjourn (motion and second recorded): outcome approved (unanimous; tally 5–0).

What’s next Committee members said final recommendation packets will be prepared and delivered to the Board of Selectmen (and updated when Franklin County provides a final tax number). Any final changes to the budget will be reflected after county and other external figures are finalized.

Ending The committee closed the meeting after recording its votes and thanking staff for the packet; staff and committee members said they would circulate final recommendation documents to the Selectmen in the coming days.