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Commissioners approve budget after reverting pay cut

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FARMINGTON – Franklin County commissioners sent a $6.79 million budget back to the Budget Committee Tuesday morning, opting to revert a reduction in commissioner pay.

Commissioners Charlie Webster of Farmington and Terry Brann of Wilton moved to add $6,000 back into the County Commissioners’ cost center, a $130,171 budget that covers costs associated with the county’s administration. Webster made the motion to add back the $2,000 to all three commissioners’ salary lines for 2020-20, reverting a change made by the committee at their meeting last Wednesday. The committee had proposed cutting commissioner pay from $12,000 per year down to $10,000.

“I find the whole thing very petty,” Webster said of the process. He thanked some of the committee members, but said others didn’t bother to evaluate the budget and only wanted to add money. Commissioners had made several budgetary reductions over the past few years, Webster said, including phasing out Program & Grant funding, leaving the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments and the Maine County Commissioners Association. The commissioners had saved the county $800,000 to $1 million over the past four years, Webster said.

The budget process had become “political,” Webster said, adding that he had become frustrated by the process.

Brann agreed with Webster in supporting the motion. Commissioner Clyde Barker of Strong, who has health issues, was not at Tuesday’s meeting. Brann did note that Barker had attended last week’s budget meeting and had been unhappy with the proposed decrease.

Commissioners declined to further change two other committee alterations. The committee had removed roughly $7,000 for a part-time employee at the commissioners’ office, a change made with the approval of County Clerk Julie Magoon. A second change made by the committee, setting the treasurer’s salary at $12,000 and eliminating the purchase of a time clock, was also left in place by commissioners.

The committee will only be addressing commissioner changes at their final meeting this year, specifically adding $6,000 back into the commissioners’ budget. A two-thirds majority of the committee would be required to veto the commissioners’ change.

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30 Comments

  1. Do you think you might get UT dirt roads graded any time soon? Over the past 2 months I’ve called the office 4 times and the road commissioner too. Keep getting told multiple versions of the same story. We’re now in the middle of July and it hasn’t been touched this year. Do you want mine and my neighbors front end alignment bills or can the excuses stop and the grading begin? I’m in Salem Township on the Lovejoy Rd.

  2. Ol’ Charlie Webster of all people crying about “politics” as he votes to put more of the taxpayer’s money into his own pocket. This, minutes after acknowledging less taxes will be coming in from Jay to the county. Have you no shame, Charlie?

  3. The Reed’s Mill Road in Madrid hasn’t been graded since last summer. We put $2000 into the front ends of our truck and car last year and another $400 to the car this year for the same repairs. Our roads always were graded at least 3 times a year and were kept in great shape. Driving more than 10mph will wreck your vehicle and cause your teeth to rattle! I called the office and emailed my commissioner all to no avail. I’d like a deduction from my taxes to pay for the repairs if they aren’t going to grade them properly.

  4. The three geniuses decided they knew more about road maintenance than their road commissioner so now most maintenance is put out for bid instead of being done economically by the road commissioner. Good luck getting any maintenance done in this competitive market, busy contractors aren’t going to work for peanuts when there’s real work out there.

  5. So the Commissioners added 20% to their proposed personal salaries for next year, but cut program funding and reduced staffing wages? Sounds pretty swampy to me.

  6. Anyone complaining about the dirt roads should take a ride across Mosher hill in Farmington that ones paged and 10 mph is too fast.

  7. Charlie approved cuts the budget comittee made, I totally agree commisioners pay should not be cut, the highest paid is Waldo county at 17,500 so to clear the air based on statue the budget comittee did not over turn the commisioners decision.

  8. Sorry didnt put my last name the first time, I like everyone to know when it’s me vs being a secret person on here

  9. $12,000 per year for a very demanding job that requires alot of time and effort and tough decision making
    And best of alllll, you get to hear non stop complaints from the progressive liberals who want to us to use
    Tax payer money for everything under the sun. Who would want to do this?? I, for one, appreciate their
    Good work and their efforts to keep our taxes down. Those non-profits can have fund raisers and they can
    Send out letters asking for support, whatever they like, go for it. But please stop asking the tax payers for
    More more more. There are hundreds of non-profits in this state, many doing the same things!!! From what
    I have seen (from my time as a Farmington Budget committee member) these non-profits spend an huge
    Amount of their funds on salaries and the executive directors often make more than 6 figures. To those
    Folks that are constantly complaining whenever they see a tough decision that reduces spending to the
    Non profits, i will repeat what many others have posted….open up your wallet or checkbook and make a
    Personal donation to them. Oh, and by the way, why would anyone complain about a $12,000 annual
    Salary for these men who manage the the $6.8 million budget for an entire county. Many non-profits have
    A much smaller annual budget and their directors make over $100k per year. Seems like our hard working
    Commissioners are severely under paid!!

  10. I thought these commissioners were “Conservative” Republicans? I guess not when it comes to their personal salary.

  11. Chronic complainer about spending taxpayer dollars, Mike Deschenes, is now defending the County Commissioners voting to line their own pockets with additional taxpayer dollars minutes after acknowledging less money will be coming into the County. “Hard working commissioners,” that’s rich.

  12. For those who have followed the County Budget over these past four years, much has been done to set priorities and reduce unnecessary spending. Until recently the Commissioners and the County Budget Committee worked together to review spending and provide necessary services. Over those four years a total of literally hundreds of thousands of spending has been reduced by setting priorities and only funding those functions necessary to meet the needs of County Government and County taxpayers. Regarding the $2000 reduction in Commissioners salaries, supported by the Budget Committee, this action was in my opinion both petty and childish as punishment to the Commissioners who refused to support additional spending as proposed by this particular group of town selectmen. The salaries of the County Commissioners have been discussed several times during my approximately 5 years as Commissioner. Frankly perhaps the salary could be reviewed again, assuming it was done so based on a reasoned approach rather than simply a way to somehow punish those who you disagree with over a spending argument. For the record, Franklin County Commissioners are currently paid about the same amount received by most rural Counties in Maine. Our Commissioners do not receive any benefits nor should they in my opinion. During these past four years we eliminated travel, meals, and “convention expenses” from the Commissioners budget. Four years ago when the County Budget faced a $200,000 shortfall every department within County Government was scrutinized and adjusted, including the Commissioner budget line.

  13. So the same two who have held out the budget for the dispatchers because they didn’t deserve any past increase and wanted to cut positions have the gall to call their paycut petty? These two should be the first ones volunteering to have their pay cut, especially if Social Security didn’t get an increase. These same two who cost the county thousands fighting the dispatchers contract have no business calling anyone petty!

  14. The commissioners did not get a raise, they simply retained the same pay they had been getting. Please re-read Mike Deschenes comment and learn. Anyone that is willing to do this thankless job for less is welcome to run for the position. I’m willing to wager that those in favor of a pay cut for the commissioners more than likely voted to increase the school budget every year.Why would anyone take a job just to be run down group of keyboard wizards with nothing better to do is beyond me. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, and you know what they say about opinions, everybody has one.

  15. @Charles Webster – I had heard that Commissioners received some sort of health insurance benefit.
    Can you clarify that? Thank you.

  16. The Commissioners receive $12,000 a year with no benefits. Several years ago when the County faced a budget shortfall, the Commissioners Salary line was reduced from about $14,500 ( which did include benefits ) to the current $12,000 amount. This amount was suggested to place our Commissioners in line with the Statewide average for rural Counties here in Maine. As I’ve stated many times I believe elected officials should not receive benefits and should not receive increases in their wages during their term in office. Regarding the County roads, after difficulty with the bid process the grading and repairs are now underway. If someone had a specific question about a particular road feel free to contact your Commissioner, or call the office and we will try to give you an update regarding when your road is scheduled for improvements.

  17. Thanks for the clarification Charlie!!! Keep up the good work.

    Hey Tim,

    I like to add a bit of Sweet Baby Ray’s bbq sauce to to my chicken or pork or steak, it’s delicious. Maybe it
    Will help you eat that crow….i hear it’s not very tasty.

  18. https://www.sunjournal.com/2020/07/06/franklin-county-commissioners-annual-pay-to-be-set/

    It seems for rural Maine these salaries are disproportionate. Especially in a year we have asked other municipalities to make cuts/sacrifices.

    Looking at their website, for the meeting agendas/minutes that are listed, (which aren’t many and are from previous years) they average 2 meetings a month. $10,000 a year is pretty good for only 24 meetings. It must be nice not to have others regulating what you set your salary at.

  19. It’s hypocritical, petty, and downright uncaring to continue to be proud of cutting spending for “unnecessary” Meals on Wheels and transportation services to medical appointments for our seniors.
    And as for earning your salary Charlie, I know you spend a good portion of every year down south and miss a large number of meetings. I am very glad Charlie is not running again but let’s not replace him with another person who sees their role as a warrior fighting to spread their own personal political dogma.
    County Government should serve the needs all of our citizens from road improvements to economic development.
    I look forward to voting for a new, honest, objective, and fair, county commissioner.

  20. Hey conservative with a question mark, I believe we have a very conservative group of commissioners. These guys take a beating every time something comes up that the libs think they should comment on and they do it for couch change.They do a more responsible job than any other tax taker group in the county.

  21. Mike Deschenes – Eat crow? What on earth are you talking about? Charlie’s self defense is laughable and only confirms his hypocrisy and yours. Many others here are also calling out O’l Charlie and Brann, the other Commissioner who voted himself a $2,000 bump in pay. Perhaps the $6,000 could’ve been better spent on an independent forensic accountant and auditor to see exactly how County taxpayer dollars have been dispersed, to whom, whether Commissioners meet outside of public view to discuss County business, and how County contracts have been awarded and to whom. You know, the same kind of transparency and accountability you’ve railed about for the SAD 9 School Board. Hypocrisy doesn’t taste too good, does it?

  22. “Frankly perhaps the salary could be reviewed again, assuming it was done so based on a reasoned approach rather than simply a way to somehow punish those who you disagree with over a spending argument. ”

    What research was done to increase the salary line by 20% from the budget committees proposed $10,000 up to the $12,000 that the County Commissioners set it at?

    Why doesn’t the Franklin County Commissioners website (https://www.franklincounty.maine.gov/commissioners) have any meeting agendas or minutes available after 05.29.19?

    Taxed Enough, if you think $6000 is couch change, I see the problem.

  23. So 24 meetings a year and a commissioner makes 500$/meeting at 12000/year but would make about 460$/ meeting at 10000/ year and they’re complaining? An extra 6k off taxes or used in another need could go a long way. Also, how many meetings can a commissioner miss before we dock pay?

  24. A screaming liberal who never shouts for reviews or transparency or accountability for the hundreds of non
    Profit liberal organizations or schools or any wasteful government handout programs. But when a true
    Conservative person runs a large county budget and takes a $2500 pay cut (years ago), and never asks for
    Another pay raise or increases to their benefits package (of which there is non), that person is said to be
    “lining their own pockets with additional tax payer money”. Only a progressive liberal can think this way.
    What is that old saying??? Something like “you can’t fix stupid”….??? This is why i don’t write much on the
    Bulldog these days. By the way (if you haven’t noticed), i have done a few short posts about the student
    Population for Sad9 during the last 10 years. Otherwise, not a peep in over 2 years. I am staying away from
    That topic.

  25. tim.
    Is there anything wrong with rallying for transparency in the SAD 9 School Board??
    I would hope not.

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