Saco council hears FY2027 budget presentations; departments ask for staff and capital to meet growth and compliance demands

Saco department directors used the April 13 City Council meeting to outline FY2027 budget requests focused on staffing, regulatory programs and major capital projects.

Code Enforcement Director David Tumi asked the council to convert a half‑time electrical inspector into a full‑time position to handle a sustained high workload. Tumi said his office processed roughly 1,799 permits, conducted about 1,995 field inspections and handled 185 complaints in the past year; those volumes and permitting complexity drove the request for what he said would make the department a 6.5‑full‑time‑equivalent complement in the short term. “We’re looking for a full‑time electrical inspector,” Tumi said, adding that a long‑serving master electrician plans to retire and the new hire would require overlap for training.

Planning Director Charles Tedleman described 26 active planning projects, 82 compliance matters and near‑term completion of the Housing Action Plan and a Transportation Master Plan. He highlighted a grant‑funded Saco Community History signage project installed downtown and said the department will work this year to fold climate action strategies into ordinances and long‑range planning. Staffing remains largely four positions; Tedleman described incremental budget changes for record management and AICP certification support.

Finance Director Bancher presented the finance office’s FY27 request totaling about $1,174,118, a roughly 14.1% increase over FY26 driven by personnel adjustments and software licensing/maintenance costs. He noted motor vehicle registrations remain a significant revenue stream (just under 22,000 registrations per year) and described plans to modernize vendor invoice intake and online payment options.

Water Resource Recovery staff reported treating roughly 739 million gallons last year and moving more than 2,100 tons of biosolids. The department described major plant upgrades now nearing commissioning: energizing electrical equipment and phased commissioning are planned for fall 2026 with a full transfer to the new system anticipated in early November and final completion by May 2027. The utility also expects savings from new UV disinfection that reduces chemical costs, and it plans continued pump station electrical upgrades and staff training.

IT Director Ryan Panero proposed adding a principal systems/network role and expanding cybersecurity measures (including a zero‑trust application control purchase and stronger endpoint detection). Panero also proposed a small AI working group to develop policy and advise on safe departmental AI adoption, plus microlearning training to reduce routine support requests.

Fire Chief Hamill outlined public‑safety needs including a proposed life‑safety officer to partner with code enforcement on multifamily life‑safety inspections, planned North Saco station renovations, replacement of a 2003 ladder truck and replacement of expiring self‑contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) packs. The department reported 4,573 emergency responses in 2025, about three‑quarters of which were ambulance calls.

Councilors asked detailed follow‑up questions about timelines, permit turnaround goals, revenue assumptions and potential downstream impacts (for example, effects of short‑term rental regulation on permitting workload). Directors generally said restarting or expanding compliance programs will require the requested staff and that some capital savings (e.g., lower chemical costs at the wastewater plant) will offset other investments.

Next steps: Departments will continue budget work with the city administrator and finance staff; council members will consider the FY27 budget in upcoming meetings.