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Administrator presents FY26 preliminary budget emphasizing urgent capital needs and new digital budget book
Summary
Administrator Amber Jones presented the FY26 preliminary budget to Sagadahoc County commissioners, highlighting $300,000 in near-term capital needs (cooling tower, roof, generator), a proposed 2.5% COLA, and new budgeting software (ClearGov); commissioners discussed public engagement and the Budget Advisory Committee review schedule.
Administrator Amber Jones presented the FY26 preliminary budget at the Feb. 18 Sagadahoc County commissioners meeting, outlining changes across departments and the rationale for proposed increases.
Jones said preliminary budgets are treated as protected under 1 MRSA 402 but described steps to improve public engagement, including compiling a public packet and producing a digital budget book through a new ClearGov platform. "Each office provides critical resources for residents and we’re fortunate to have really excellent staff in every department and strong department leaders in every department," Jones read from her introduction and used to frame capital and personnel requests.
Major drivers in the budget include a projected near-term capital need of nearly $300,000 to replace a cooling tower, repair a leaking flat roof over a 1986 building section, and replace an aging generator; facilities spending is shown as a 116.4% increase because many capital items were delayed in prior years. Jones said the county is building three county-owned radio towers (largely ARPA-funded), which contributed to a 138.3% increase in the EMA budget to cover current lease and construction obligations.
Jones also reported health-insurance-related increases in the HR budget (about 12% on insurance line items), a 2.5% proposed COLA included in baseline wage modeling, and IT infrastructure work including an ISP failover to protect emergency communications.
Commissioner Charles Crosby praised the transparency of presenting the preliminary numbers but acknowledged the need to finalize COLA before the proposed budget goes to the Budget Advisory Committee (BAC). Treasurer Gail Eaton urged caution, saying that releasing preliminary numbers might prompt public comment on figures that could still change; Crosby and others said Department Heads will be present on Feb. 28 when the BAC and commissioners review the proposed budget together.
Next steps: Commissioners will review wage adjustments and set annual COLA at a special meeting Feb. 25; the full proposed budget will be presented to the BAC and public at an all-day meeting Feb. 28, with the intent to finalize the proposed budget for public distribution soon after.
