Recently promoted Lieutenant Everett Allen with his two sons.
Photo: Ayn Hanselmann
By Kendra Williams
At its April 1 meeting, after months of budget workshops, the City Council gave final approval for the 2025/26 municipal and school budgets with Councilors Nathan Hitchcock and Jonathan Martel voting against it. The amount to be raised by taxation is $41,752,101. The law requires a validation referendum election for the school budget portion, which will be held on June 10.
Included in the budget motion was a notation that the funds for Goodall Library will be held until a lease agreement and other issues have been finalized.
City Manager Steve Buck reported earlier that an application for a people’s veto referendum, challenging the budget passed by the legislature and signed into law by Gov. Janet Mills on March 21, has been submitted to the Secretary of State. Included in that budget is local funding for essential programs and services for schools, municipal revenue sharing, jails and gap funding for MaineCare services important to hospitals and ambulance services.
If the petition, which may begin to be circulated next week, receives just under 68,000 signatures by June 15, the budget currently due to go into effect on June 20 will be delayed until after the November election. Buck encouraged voters who are asked to sign the petition to be aware of the consequences of the delay, which will include significant local budget shortfalls and large property tax increases.
In other budget news, the council voted to accept and authorize a benefits proposal from Paquin and Carroll LLC for Maine Paid Family Medical Leave (PFML) Insurance. An application for a waiver to opt out of the State of Maine PFML Program will be submitted. The combined annual savings for the schools and city will be significant.
Also at the meeting, a brief celebration was held to recognize the promotion of Everett Allen from sergeant to lieutenant. Police Chief Eric Small spoke of Lt. Allen’s dedication to service and leadership in his previous roles as officer, detective and in support services within the mental health unit.
In other business, the council reviewed and discussed municipal vehicles assigned to staff in various departments that may be taken home to be able to respond to situations and emergencies in their off hours. Typically, personal vehicles are to be used unless responding to an incident. However, Chief Small explained that for certain supervisory roles, the vehicles are sometimes used on personal errands to enable a prompt response to situations without having to return home to switch vehicles. He also shared the reason for not having some of them marked is due to expensive contents that could make the vehicles a target. Councilors agreed that managers of various departments should provide supervision of staff vehicles and follow personnel policies, but public perceptions are important. If citizens have concerns about the use of staff vehicles, they should contact the mayor or the appropriate department manager.
The full meeting can be viewed here watch
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