Vassalboro select board reviews manager’s budget draft

by Mary Grow

Vassalboro select board members held their first review of Town Manager Aaron Miller’s draft 2025-26 town budget at a Feb. 4 workshop meeting. They went through the document category by category and frequently line by line.

This part of the budget includes neither the 2025-26 school budget, which will be larger than the town budget, nor the 2025-26 Kennebec County tax.

Board members started with an increase of about $270,000 over the current year’s budget. By the end of the more-than-two-hour meeting, they had about a $560,000 increase.

All numbers are preliminary; many will change as the budget process continues. After select board members reach consensus, budget committee members will make their recommendations; if the two boards differ, they will try to reach agreement before voters make final decisions in June.

Miller reminded those watching the Feb. 4 discussion that all taxpayers, as well as town employees and volunteer board and committee members, are welcome to attend discussions. The meeting schedule is posted on the town website, Vassalboro.net.

One of the largest expenditures is replacing the deteriorating Dunlap bridge on Mill Hill Road. Select board members have three different plans with three different price tags. Last summer they received a $200,000 federal grant that requires town matching funds.

Miller said the public works budget might decrease slightly, although it is incomplete and subject to change. It includes the second payment on the new skidsteer and other equipment expenses. Miller said Public Works Director Brian Lajoie recommends buying a new, smaller truck for plowing narrow and dead-end roads, at a cost of around $71,000.

The paving budget might increase, depending on the price of materials and how much paving is done. Miller said Lajoie’s preliminary plans for 2025 would repave or pave Crowell Hill Road (1.9 miles, last done in 2010-11), Priest Hill Road (2.2 miles, last done in 2015), Carll Lane, Dow Road and Town Farm Road.

One question is whether the town will save money by paving unpaved roads; extra costs of maintaining them might be high enough so that paving would quickly pay for itself in savings. Miller plans further discussion with Lajoie.

Miller is recommending a 2.9 percent cost of living increase, plus 2 percent merit raises, for town employees. He expects increases in several lines in the town office budget, including insurance, legal fees and perhaps postage.

Election expenses, however, should go down about $1,000, with no 2025 presidential election, Miller said.

Delta Ambulance service’s fee increase, from $25 to $35 per resident, will raise that budget line. Miller said volunteer firefighters also request an increase.

Some of the smaller budget items look as though they will remain the same as this year. Miller mentioned cemetery maintenance; select board member Chris French asked whether a tree maintenance plan discussed last fall might require an increase.

Miller replied that planning tree maintenance five years ahead is difficult, given cost changes. Board chairman Frederick “Rick” Denico, Jr., observed that removing dying trees is probably less expensive than repairing tree-damaged gravestones.

The manager foresees an increase in assessing costs, as the assessor’s salary goes from $33,500 to $35,000. He recommends adding $40,000 to the reserve fund for a future town-wide revaluation.

Board members intended to continue budget review at their regular meeting Feb. 6, but canceled it due to snow.

The next budget workshop was originally scheduled for Feb. 13, but Miller later changed it to Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 5:30 p.m. Beforehand, he promised to “sharpen my pencil” and review smaller items in the Feb. 4 draft.