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Skowhegan manager splits budget review over five meetings to improve transparency
Summary
Town Manager Nick announced a new schedule that spreads FY2027 departmental budget presentations across five weekly Select Board meetings to reduce fatigue and give department heads more time to explain requests; the Select Board will adopt a budget for the Town Meeting Report on April 14.
Town Manager Nick told the Select Board on Jan. 27 that, beginning this year, the town will split its annual budget review over five weekly meetings rather than holding a single marathon session. He said the change aims to increase transparency, reduce board fatigue and give department heads time to present and answer questions.
"I've split up tentatively the budget meetings over 5 select board meetings," Nick said, outlining presentations scheduled for Feb. 24 (transfer station, cemeteries, town manager), March 3 (parks and recreation, finance, community requests), March 10 (assessing, community development, general assistance), March 17 (highway, pollution control) and March 24 (police and fire). The Select Board is scheduled to adopt a budget for inclusion in the annual Town Meeting Report on April 14.
Nick said the budget committee will review the board-adopted budget and make recommendations per town bylaws, and that the staggered schedule should allow for shorter, more focused meetings. The change responds to recent concerns about marathon budget sessions and the need for greater public accessibility to budget deliberations.
Board members generally welcomed the approach as a way to improve public engagement and oversight; the manager said he would provide a detailed timeline and circulate meeting agendas ahead of each session.
The next step is the first scheduled budget presentation on Feb. 24.
