AUBURN — Believing that several false claims exist concerning the ongoing county budget dispute, the Androscoggin County commissioners are sending a “fact vs. myth” memorandum to every elected city and town official in the county.

The memorandum details what commissioners believe to be 12 myths concerning the county budget and the authority of the commissioners and the Budget Committee.

“The Board of County Commissioners believes it has an obligation to inform the public of the facts so that the public can make well informed decisions and formulate views that are based on fact, not myths,” according to the memorandum.

Commissioners followed up each myth with what they describe as “the actual facts.”

Municipalities and the county have been locked in a dispute since last year’s budget season, when the Budget Committee attempted to lower the commissioners’ salaries below what commissioners proposed. The committee also voted to eliminate health insurance for commissioners. 

Claiming the changes made to the County Charter gave them power to set the budget, commissioners overruled the committee and restored their salaries and health benefits. The county municipalities objected, saying the commissioners did not abide by the charter.  

The dispute is in court after the Androscoggin County municipalities, whose officials make up the Budget Committee, filed suit in July.

Many of the myths revolve around the County Charter, which has been in dispute since voters ratified it in 2012.

According to the memorandum, “the original County Charter contained inconsistent and ambiguous provisions. A proper construction of the original Charter, in light of the minutes of the Charter Commission, is that the Budget Committee did not have final decision-making authority over County Commissioners’ salaries and benefits.”

The charter was amended in the Legislature and signed June 21, 2013, by Gov. Paul LePage to “clarify that the vote of the Budget Committee on the County Budget is advisory only.”

Commissioners also point to the results of a referendum last month when more than 70 percent of the voters ratified an amendment to the charter that gives the Budget Committee only the authority to approve increases in commissioners’ salaries and benefits.

The commissioners added that the amendment gives them final authority over the rest of the county budget.

Critics of that referendum have called the wording of the ballot question misleading, resulting in the overwhelming “yes” vote.

The memorandum also details attempts by commissioners to meet with the plaintiffs and avoid litigation. It also attempts to correct the impression that the more than $40,000 already spent by commissioners to defend the lawsuit is being paid by taxpayers. In fact, the Risk Pool is paying the tab.

Commissioners also scoffed at the charge that they “are defending the lawsuit using scorched-earth tactics.” Commissioners point the scorched-earth finger at the municipalities and their attorney, Peter Brann.

“If anyone is scorching the earth, it is Brann,” the commissioners say in the memorandum.

Lastly, commissioners point out they proposed a settlement offer following the referendum vote last month, which was rejected. In an effort to resolve the issue, commissioners also voted recently to eliminate health benefits for four commissioners by the end of the year and continue benefits for the other three commissioners for one more year.

“The dispute . . . was never about preserving or protecting their salaries or benefits. It was a principled defense of the provisions of the County Charter which gives them, not the Budget Committee, final authority over the salaries, benefits and the entire county budget.”

“In the absence of settlement, that defense will continue.”

Commissioners ratified the eight-page document with no discussion. It will be mailed to the home addresses of every mayor, city councilor and selectman in Androscoggin County. It will also be sent to each member of the Budget Committee.

The majority of Wednesday’s commissioners’ meeting was spent in executive session dealing with personnel issues, mostly to finalize the contract with longtime Treasurer Robert Poulin.

The charter changed the treasurer’s position from elected to appointed. Poulin, who has served as treasurer for 14 years, will continue in that role for the next year.

In other business, commissioners approved a public safety answering point contract with the town of Sabattus and an emergency dispatching contract for fire and rescue with Greene.

Chairwoman Beth Bell was elected to the Maine County Commissioners Association board of directors.

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