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Bucksport council approves fiscal 2026–27 municipal, sewer and marina budgets; accepts public safety director resignation
Summary
The council passed a package of resolves approving the municipal, sewer and marina enterprise budgets for 2026–27, amended sewer user fees as part of a multi-year adjustment, authorized routine tax-anticipation borrowing and granted a festival license; it also accepted Public Safety Director Sean Gagan’s resignation effective July 31, 2026.
Bucksport’s council voted to approve the town’s fiscal 2026–27 municipal and capital program budget and related enterprise budgets during its regular meeting. Councilors moved and seconded a series of resolves and the motions carried without roll-call tallies recorded in the transcript.
The votes at a glance: Resolve 2026-143 — Approving the municipal and capital program budget for fiscal year 2026–2027. Motion moved, seconded and approved.
Resolve 2026-144 — Approving the sewer enterprise budget for fiscal year 2026–2027. Motion moved, seconded and approved.
Resolve 2026-145 — Approving an amendment to the Town of Bucksport schedule of fees to adjust sewer user fees. Council discussed that this is the second half of a planned two-year adjustment after roughly a decade of flat sewer rates; the sewer budget reportedly grew about $500,000 over that period.
Resolve 2026-146 — Approving the Marina enterprise budget for fiscal year 2026–2027. Motion moved, seconded and approved.
Resolve 2026-147 — Accepting the resignation of Sean Gagan as Public Safety Director, effective July 31, 2026. Council members lauded Director Gagan’s service during a reluctant motion. "I have slept very comfortably at night knowing that Director Gagan was at the helm of our public safety department," one councilor said, and the council approved the resignation.
Resolve 2026-148 — Authorizing tax anticipation borrowing, a routine short-term borrowing tool for municipal cash flow. Council noted prior borrowings mature June 30 and the new borrowing will close July 1.
Resolve 2026-149 — Approving a festival and public entertainment license for the Celebrate American 250 Festival.
Why it matters: The package finalizes the town’s immediate fiscal plan and continues a measured increase in sewer fees to address a decade of flat rates and rising operating costs. The acceptance of Director Gagan’s resignation begins a personnel transition in a department councilors described as one of the town’s most sensitive and complex operations.
Ending: The council completed these votes during its regular meeting and moved on to other agenda items including the town manager’s report and a scheduled executive session.
