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Kennebunk boards approve most of 2026–27 budget; split over Community Garden funding
Summary
The Select Board and Budget Board on Feb. 26 approved the bulk of the town's proposed 2026–27 departmental budgets, including Highway, Recreation and Employee Benefits, but recorded a split over Community Garden funding after the Budget Board voted to increase the line item to $5,000 and the Select Board approved $3,000.
Kennebunk officials approved most of the town's proposed fiscal 2026–27 departmental budgets at a joint Select Board and Budget Board meeting on Feb. 26, 2026, while recording a disagreement over funding for the Community Garden.
Finance Director Kayla Tierney opened the meeting's budget presentation and reviewed the PowerPoint and budget book used to guide the discussion. The boards approved major line items including Highway ($3,318,330), Recreation ($1,161,613), Employee Benefits ($5,069,748), the Capital Plan ($576,500) and Debt Service (General Fund $2,785,110). For many departments the recorded votes were unanimous or largely in favor on both boards (Budget Board recorded tallies typically 5/0/1/0; Select Board recorded 5/0/2/0 where noted in the minutes).
Most departmental and committee requests were adopted as presented. Notable committee allocations approved included West Kennebunk Village Committee ($2,300), the Energy Efficiency & Sustainability Committee ($6,000) and the Climate Action Committee ($2,000). Thomas Wellman, Budget Board secretary, is recorded in the minutes as stating "he was a member of this committee" when the Board of Assessment Review line item and the Climate Action Committee item were considered; that membership is noted in the minutes but no recusal or further action is recorded in these minutes.
The Community Garden request prompted divergent outcomes. The minutes show the Community Garden requested $3,000; the Budget Board voted to increase the allocation to $5,000 (recorded vote 3 in favor, 2 opposed, 1 absent; minutes list Matthew Fasano and Fred Weber as opposed) while the Select Board approved $3,000 (recorded vote 4 in favor, 1 opposed, 2 absent; minutes list Kortney Nedeau as opposed). The minutes record these separate board votes; they do not show a reconciled final dollar amount, indicating the difference will need to be reconciled through the next steps in the town's budget process.
The meeting concluded with routine approvals and procedural motions. The boards voted to adjourn at 8:34 p.m.; the minutes record a Select Board motion by Lisa Pratt, seconded by William Ward Jr., and a Budget Board motion by Fred Weber, seconded by Laura Sevigny.
The minutes of the meeting were prepared by Kayla Tierney, finance director; a date for formal approval of the minutes was left blank in the record.
