At its first meeting of the budget cycle the Cumberland County finance committee elected Bob Bell as chair and selected Karen (Orenstein) as vice chair after nominations and a motion carried.

Following the leadership votes, County Manager Jim Geely presented a high‑level budget overview and the committee requested targeted department presentations in upcoming sessions. Geely said staff will provide enterprise and grant budgets and arrange deeper reviews with the sheriff's office, the district attorney's office, communications/dispatch, EMA, registry of deeds and IT. The meeting adjourned; the committee confirmed the next meeting for January 6.