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Lisbon Falls council adopts FY2027 municipal budget after tense workshop
Summary
After a lengthy workshop, the Lisbon Falls Town Council approved an amended FY2027 municipal budget that increases capital investment and leaves decisions on school spending to a voter referendum; council rejected a pay-as-you-throw policy but approved higher transfer-station fees and several personnel reductions.
The Lisbon Falls Town Council on May 5 adopted its fiscal year 2027 municipal budget after more than three hours of staff briefings, council debate and public comment. Councilors voted 5–2 to approve an amended budget that sets aside $625,658 for municipal capital projects, reallocates one-time proceeds from asset sales and reduces certain personnel costs as part of a package of line-item amendments.
Town staff summarized key changes before the meeting’s substantive debate. Town staffer Jim told the council that detailed adjustments cut previously projected savings and clarified insurance and wage assumptions. “The first top box represents … in the first year a $99,870 assuming statements to the budget,” Jim said while walking council members through the revised figures. The council agreed not to move forward with a pay-as-you-throw solid-waste program this year, a decision that required other offsets to reach capital goals.
Council debate focused on how much capital to restore after several years of deferred maintenance. Some members argued for a larger capital envelope to avoid further infrastructure decline; others stressed affordability for residents. “We can’t afford it,” one councilor warned during the floor debate, urging the body to face “the reality” of limited recurring revenues. To close the remaining gap, the council approved targeted personnel reductions (including elimination of a parks maintenance supervisor) and a one-time transfer from reserve accounts.
The council left the school operating budget and most school-related articles to voter referendum, a procedural choice that means any tax increases for school spending will be decided by residents at the ballot. The municipal mill rate was preserved on the town side; the council’s action shifts the decision on additional school funding to the voters. The meeting closed after the council adopted related enterprise rate orders for sewer and set several administrative and annual salary items.
