RANGELEY — The second and final public hearing on the June town meeting warrant and proposed fiscal year 2026 $12 million budget will be held Monday, May 5, at 5 p.m. at the Town Office. The budget reflects an increase of approximately $800,000 over the current budget.
Included in the proposed budget are projections for the town’s portion of the RSU #78 and Franklin County budgets. The county tax is estimated to increase by 10 percent to $1,342,088. Based on budget information from the district, the town’s estimated education payment is $3,916,951. Neither the county or school budgets have been finalized.
The annual town meeting will take place 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, June 10 at the Town Office. Town meetings have been held by referendum, or secret ballot at the polls, since 2017.
The proposed budget reflects increases in the highway sewer, police and transfer station budgets that are primarily related to Collective Bargaining Agreement contract increases to wages and benefits, Town Manager Joe Roach said previously.
The transfer station budget includes a contractual five percent annual increase in tipping and hauling fees.
The finance portion of the general government budget reflects a $41,272 increase.
“The bulk of that is an arrangement we have with a Certified Public Accountant. That is a new element in the year we are in now and it is going to be carried into next year,” Roach said.
The buildings portion of the same department budget increased $30,373. This is due, in part, to the need for new televisions, a water cooler and a projector for the conference room.
“The largest increase is in janitorial,” Roach said. “We are doubling the number of days they come. Two days a week isn’t keeping up now that we are fully staffed.”
An increase of $4340 in the public safety budget is related to the proposed installation of RFID locks to secure the department’s building.
EMS contract services item reflects an increase of $49,000. Roach said all towns that use NorthStar services have seen an increase.
A one-time line item of $35,900 is earmarked for a Municipal Needs Assessment.
The capital purchases budget decreased by $4940.
Capital projects planned for the upcoming fiscal year include a new gazebo for the town park; parking lot crack sealing, seal coating and striping for the town office complex parking lot; new flooring in the town office; additional boat dock at the town park; and SCBA equipment and radio replacements for the fire department.
The general fund unassigned balance is expected to be between $5.2 and $5.7 million at the end of the fiscal year, June 30. The Board of Selectmen have recommended using $1.375 million in unassigned fund to offset the tax commitment.
Part of the reason for the high unassigned fund balance is due to the town previously budgeting for positions that were not able to be filled.
“We did not have competitive salaries and folks were not interested in those pay rates.,” Roach said. “We couldn’t fill positions, but we had to raise the money because we were hopeful we could fill them. I know that has been a little friction for some folks but that is the reality.”
In addition to budgetary and business articles, there are several town officers that will be elected in June. There are two Board of Selectmen, one Parks Commission, one RSU #78 School Director, two Sewer Commission and two Budget Committee terms up for election. All positions are 3-year terms.
