Council Corner - FY2023 Budget

 

 

Monday, April 25th, the Council will hold a Public Hearing to consider and act on the adoption of the FY2023 Municipal Budget. The 2022-2023 Proposed budget, which includes the MSAD #51 appropriations, will increase the mil rate by an estimated 3.1% (from $20.55 to $21.20). Throughout this process, it has been very important to us to ensure that the increase was responsible, thoughtful, and fair. This year, the largest increase in the budget is for wages. We are proposing funding a 6% COLA increase and we have 4 full-time positions that have been left unfilled until the second half of this current year. Beginning July 1, they will be reinstated which brings us back to 2019 levels of staffing. We are also looking at hiring 2 new paramedics, and modifying the Fire Chief’s position to full-time, in an effort to meet basic levels of service for our Fire/Paramedic staff, as the Town and State face a shortage of skilled workers.

 

This year we are also looking at funding requests from the Lands and Conservation Commission and Chebeague and Cumberland Land Trust. Town support of the LCC and CCLT’s general operations would allow both groups to continue work protecting important lands, promoting the conservation of natural resources, and encouraging the conservation of water, land, and open space, while providing environmental education opportunities for Town residents and visitors.

 

To learn more, please find FY23 budget information here and join us at the meeting on April 25th or watch here.

 

To learn more about the ongoing school budget process, please click here.