North Berwick board previews FY27 budget, staff propose 5–7% wage increases

North Berwick finance staff presented an early FY27 budget at the Dec. 30 Select Board meeting that is currently 9.21% above the prior year but may be reduced to about 7% during upcoming line-item review.

Dwayne Morin, speaking for town staff, said the preliminary numbers reflect planned capital and impact fees but that the “effectual percent is around 5%” once those items are excluded. He told the board he expects a revised budget at the next Select Board meeting after additional review.

Morin proposed a 5%–7% wage increase for town employees, citing a recent wage study shared by the Town of Berwick and saying North Berwick is on the low end of the pay scale. “We have great staff,” Morin said, arguing that turnover and the training cost of replacing employees would exceed the proposed increases. He also noted ongoing negotiations with the police union and said he budgets conservatively to allow later reductions.

To contain costs, Morin described department-level proposals, including sourcing a used unmarked vehicle for the detective post in place of two new cruisers. He estimated this approach could “reduce the price from a new vehicle around $56,000.00 to a used vehicle around $7,000.00.” At the Fire Department, Chief Gosselin is piloting a daily per-diem shift so a second person is present during daytime hours; Morin said the shifts will be paid at the employee’s hourly wage.

Board Chair Wendy Cowan and other members asked for additional line-item detail. Morin said he would return with a finalized budget after two weeks of more intensive review. The discussion did not produce a vote on the budget; board members were briefed on assumptions, projected wage changes, and expected timing for more detailed materials.