Vassalboro budget committee asks broad question about needs and costs

by Mary Grow

The Vassalboro budget committee’s March 21 meeting with select board members began with – and sometimes reverted to – a broad question about what townspeople want for their town and how much they are willing to pay.

Budget committee member Dallas Smedberg raised the question, in terms of whether the budget committee should endorse proposed spending recommended by the select board, or should emphasize fiscal responsibility and suggest a smaller budget.

Specifically, Smedberg said, he had reservations about the 6.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) recommended for town employees (and did not like the wage scale with automatic two percent annual increases, if job performance was satisfactory, that select board members adopted last year).

He wondered if the town’s new program director (the job title was changed from recreation director) was moving too fast; if the library really needed more town support to expand its activities and hours; if the police chief needed more hours, or if Vassalboro even needed its own police department.

Committee members Douglas Phillips and Donald Breton shared Smedberg’s concerns. As discussion proceeded, select board and budget committee members expressed varied opinions.

Town Manager Aaron Miller proposed including a questionnaire with 2023-24 tax bills seeking residents’ input on these and perhaps other town questions. Information would be too late to influence 2023-24 budget recommendations, but could help guide next year’s discussions.

For town salaries, Smedberg suggested a two or three percent COLA. Phillips feared employees would expect six percent annually, forever.

Miller had collected figures from other Maine towns; some were giving employees more than 6.5 percent, some less. His concern is retaining employees; select board chairman Barbara Redmond and member Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., remembered the difficulty of finding them in the first place.

Budget committee member Frank Richards cited another organization that adopted a pay scale similar to Vassalboro’s. It’s too recent for a complete evaluation, he said, but there is a full staff for the first time in three years, and morale and productivity are good.

Denico and budget committee member Philip Landry pointed out that Vassalboro’s location between Augusta and Waterville means local residents have many job choices.

Program Director Karen Hatch asked to have her hours increased from 20 to 30 a week. Phillips said he was “impressed” by her planned programs, but would like more specifics; and he wondered how much oversight she gets.

Landry commented that the recreation budget request, $65,898, is smaller than the library’s, and the program has more oversight and town control. (Hatch is a town employee.)

Redmond added that Hatch is working her full hours now, and warm-weather outdoor sports programs haven’t started. The recreation program used to be almost entirely youth sports; Hatch is developing activities for all ages.

What next, Smedberg asked, a recreation center with a full staff? Budget committee chairman Peggy Shaffer and Redmond said they had seen comments about a community center.

When discussion reached the proposed library budget, budget committee member Michael Poulin pointed out that this year’s requested increase was the second in two years – after no increase for at least a decade. At a previous meeting, library officials said they planned no more major changes.

According to figures Miller compiled, the library budget was $35,000 for fiscal year 2021-22 and $60,500 for the current — 2022-23 — fiscal year. The request for 2023-24 is $71,000.

Richards said director Brian Stanley’s innovations were attracting families with young children, and new working families were a benefit to the town.

Phillips recommended library officials do more fund-raising. Redmond said they intend to, now that the decline in Covid allows fund-raising events. Stanley said at an earlier meeting he plans to add a part-time staff member responsible for grant-writing.

Phillips also suggested a select board member be added to the library’s board of trustees. Miller and Redmond said town officials get library financial and program reports.

Regarding police chief Mark Brown’s request for additional hours, Denico and Redmond said Brown already works more hours than he is paid for.

Breton suggested contracting for policing with the Kennebec County sheriff’s office (KSO) and the state police for coverage, and dispensing with a local department. Redmond said the state police are “backing off on rural coverage.”

China and one other town contract with KSO, she said. The cost is $85 an hour; and at present KSO does not have enough staff to accommodate Vassalboro.

The current public safety budget, which covers the police department and the animal control officer, is $86,426. The select board recommendation for 2023-24 is $102,188. More than $10,000 of the requested increase is Brown’s salary and benefits, and another $6,000-plus is for dispatching fees. There is a decrease in the animal control officer’s line.

Miller presented preliminary estimates for non-tax revenues for 2023-24. They include vehicle excise taxes, state revenue sharing, federal funds, fees paid at the town office for licenses and other services and other items.

Budget committee members decided that if the school budget is ready in time, they will meet Tuesday, April 4, with school officials at the school. In any case, they are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m., Thursday, April 6, at the town office to make final recommendations.