Rangeley budget panel backs police cruiser buy from undesignated funds, reallocates reserves ahead of March 31 hearing

Rangeley’s budget advisory panel on March 10 approved its preliminary recommendations and cleared several capital and reserve moves — including a contentious decision to pay for a police cruiser and outfitting from the town’s undesignated fund rather than lease it.

The hearing, opened by the committee chair, presented recommended figures across departments and walked through differences with the town manager’s budget. The chair told attendees that the selectmen will finalize the town budget at a March 31 public hearing and that the budget committee’s figures are advisory: "The budget will be finalized by the selectmen on March 31 at their public hearing," the chair said.

Why it matters: committee members said using undesignated funds for one‑time capital items avoids paying outside interest and limits long‑term costs to taxpayers. The committee estimated the town’s undesignated fund balance at roughly $4.1 million, and members argued some one‑time road and equipment projects should be paid from that cushion rather than financed.

A central vote: after extended discussion over vehicle type and outfitting costs, the committee voted 3–2 to recommend purchasing a 2025/26 PIU gas Ford Interceptor priced at $45,600 and to spend an additional $20,000 to fully outfit the vehicle — a $65,600 total to be taken from the undesignated fund balance. Mark moved the purchase recommendation and Shelley seconded; the motion passed with a 3–2 tally.

Members who supported the purchase said the Interceptor met Rangeley’s needs at lower purchase price and total cost than a Tahoe option. Opponents pressed concerns about long‑term fleet replacement costs and recurring timing of replacements, but the majority said adding $30,000 back into the police reserve (a separate unanimous motion) would help keep future purchases manageable.

Other capital and reserve decisions: the committee approved several reserve reallocations. Members set the fire department reserve at $100,000, the public‑works reserve at $75,000 and confirmed a $30,000 police reserve top‑up. The panel also voted unanimously to take a $95,000 package of fire‑rescue equipment (extrication tools, a Polaris toe sled, large‑diameter hose and radios) from the undesignated fund balance.

Smaller appropriations and technical items included a unanimous $5,600 appropriation for the Rangeley Health Ride and a motion to take the outstanding police‑cruiser lease payment ($19,945.50) from the undesignated fund. The committee approved minutes and several housekeeping items before adjourning.

Public questions and context: during public comment resident Reed Michelle asked about discussion of the police department’s structure and whether the committee was moving to change police services. Michelle pressed: "We're only eight months into this full‑time police force, and I'm kind of questioning why we're at this point," he said, urging caution and transparency.

The committee reiterated that it is advisory and that any policy or service‑level changes would be the selectmen’s decision. Committee members said a separate request for information about police‑service options had been presented to the Board of Selectmen and that further due diligence and public discussion would follow if the board pursues it.

Next steps: the budget committee will present the advisory recommendations to the Board of Selectmen at their March 31 public hearing. That hearing is the last opportunity to revise numbers before the warrant goes to voters; the committee stressed it will continue to provide requested data and work with staff on outstanding capital details, including exact outfitting costs and vehicle lease vs. reserve comparisons.

Key figures and clarifying notes: the town manager’s capital list presented at the hearing totaled $221,667 and included items such as a sewer UTV, police vehicle lease payment, a public‑works bay door ($75,000) and a town‑office roof ($70,000). The committee reported an estimated undesignated fund balance of about $4.1 million and said some one‑time road projects (roughly $734,000 discussed as a plan) are being considered for funding from that balance to avoid new borrowing.

The committee’s recommendations are advisory; the Board of Selectmen will review and act on the final numbers at its March 31 meeting.