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Bucksport committee reviews preliminary fiscal-year financial report, projects about $250,000 surplus
Summary
The town manager told the committee the unaudited, preliminary fiscal-year reports show a projected surplus of roughly $250,000, driven by a one-time ambulance fee increase, improved third-party billing and the sale of equipment and property; the figures remain subject to audit adjustments.
The town manager told the Bucksport committee that preliminary, unaudited end-of-fiscal-year reports show a projected surplus of about $250,000.
"Ending the year with a projected surplus of right around $250,000," the manager said, adding that the numbers are preliminary and likely to see only minor audit adjustments. The manager asked committee members to remember that some July charges are billed back into the prior fiscal year and could change final audited totals.
The manager pointed to two principal revenue drivers behind the surplus: the first ambulance user-fee increase in seven years and a new third-party billing contractor that has improved collections. "This was the first time in seven years that the town had increased our user fees for ambulance," the manager said, and noted that the outside billing company has resources to collect revenue the town previously did not.
The manager also highlighted equipment and town-owned property sales and an ambulance "collectibles" line that totaled roughly $400,000 over the last 12 months—an amount the town historically had not budgeted for. "That was a considerable loss of revenue that you are not budgeting for," the manager said, explaining the importance of explicitly budgeting for collectables going forward.
Committee members pressed on details. One member asked whether the audited financial statements were likely to change the projections; the manager replied that audits typically do not materially alter the figures presented. On tax-increment financing, the manager confirmed interest is budgeted under debt service.
The committee praised staff work on the fiscal-year results and thanked staffers by name during the meeting. The manager said staff and recent operational decisions combined to produce the stronger-than-expected result.
The committee took no formal vote on the report; the figures were provided for committee review and to inform upcoming budget work.
