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Buckfield board debates budget priorities and a part-time project/grant manager; schedules joint budget meeting
Summary
Select board members reviewed the FY 2026–27 budget updates, discussed a possible part-time project/grant manager to handle grants and emergency-preparedness work, noted solid-waste cost increases, approved a foreclosure-waiver and a planning-board appointment, and scheduled a joint budget meeting for March 17.
The Town of Buckfield Select Board spent the bulk of its March 3 meeting discussing the FY 2026–27 municipal budget and whether to add a part-time project manager to help with grant writing, emergency-preparedness filings and other project work the town manager cannot absorb.
Town manager Cameron reviewed corrections and budget-committee recommendations, saying initial errors were corrected and the budget committee had added $15,000 for vehicle maintenance and adjusted the solid-waste line after tipping fees at the regional facility increased from a projected $70 per ton to $88 per ton. After those and other adjustments the budget committee’s figures showed a 3.26% gross municipal increase but a projected net decrease of 4.9% once revenue changes were applied.
Several board members urged caution about raising the municipal portion of the tax rate. One member proposed adding up to $40,000 from fund balance for a one-year, part-time project/grant manager pilot, arguing the position could pay for itself by winning grants and ensuring timely emergency reimbursement. Others recommended a department-by-department review at the next meeting and suggested that the budget committee meet jointly with the select board to streamline recommendations.
During the meeting the board also approved a property-tax foreclosure waiver for map 014-002006 (tax years 2023–24), appointed Angela McAllister to the planning board for a one-year term, and agreed to post a joint select board and budget-committee meeting on March 17 at 6:30 p.m., with a joint session beginning at 7:00 p.m. The board then entered a closed session to conduct the town manager’s evaluation and reconvened to adjourn.
What comes next: The board will review the budget department-by-department at an upcoming meeting, consider whether to fund a pilot project/grant manager position from fund balance, and expects staff to return with any contract numbers (for the winter-sand vendor) and further budget details before the warrant deadline in late April.
