At the town meeting polls on June 14, 902 Waldoboro voters cast ballots; residents rejected multiple department budgets, the budget for upkeep of the AD Gray building and the article establishing employee benefits.
These departments have not, at this time, been cut from the budget. The town will need to go back to voters with new budgets for those departments. The selectmen have the authority to decide whether to hold the new vote by referendum or open town meeting.
Voters approved the article allowing the town to use last year’s budget for three months. This allows for town officials to rework those budget items and return to a referendum vote with the new budgets.
Overall the proposed budget was $3,591,072, a .14 percent ($5088) decrease from last year. However, the amount raised from local taxes in the proposed budget was $1,699,569, a 19.65 percent ($278,418) increase over last year.
The increase in taxes corresponds almost perfectly to the loss of fund balance contribution this year. Last year, Waldoboro’s fund balance – essentially a surplus funds account – was used to fund $275,000 of the budget.
This year, the fund balance is dangerously low, and no money can be taken from it to pay down taxes, said Acting Town Manager Eileen Dondlinger.
Almost every department cut their budget somewhat in the proposed budget, but Dondlinger said the cost of diesel fuel and gasoline is up $27,231 this year; heating fuel is up $27,960; health insurance is up $30,732; and Maine State retirement is up $14,641.
Voters approved articles amending the shellfish ordinance and creating a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) ordinance, which allows residents to participate in a low-interest loan program for energy efficient home improvements.
The articles voted down are:
• The office of the town manager: $94,575 proposed; failed, 356 yes to 531 no.
• The assessing department: $77,521 proposed; tied, 440 to 440.
• The police department: $484,403 proposed: failed, 411 yes to 459 no
• The recreation department: $49,927 proposed; failed, 355 yes to 527 no
• Planning and development: $61,221 proposed; failed, 435 yes to 444 no.
• Upkeep of the AD Gray building: $14,765 proposed; failed, 365 yes to 520 no.
• Employee benefits: $481,199 proposed; failed, 411 yes to 464 no.
• An article allowing the town exceed the state property tax limit also failed, 359 yes to 507 no.
The last of these articles is common in most smaller towns in Lincoln County, where town officials say it is nearly impossible to build a municipal budget that meets state requirements. In Waldoboro, this article has not been needed for several years, but it has been used occasionally since the state law was created six years ago, Dondlinger said.
“Everyone’s working to figure out what comes next,” Dondlinger said. Despite rumors to the contrary, no town officials or employees have quit or been fired following the town meeting vote, Dondlinger said.
Katie Winchenbach, a founding member of the Concerned Citizens of Waldoboro (C-COW), sent an email to supporters and fellow C-COW members following the announcement of the town meeting results.
“They didn’t listen the first time, maybe they will listen this time,” Winchenbach wrote. “This is just what this town needs … let’s show them we mean business.”
