FARMINGTON – County commissioners set their preliminary budget Tuesday, eliminating cost of living wage increases for non-union employees, slashing the proposed finance director position and releasing $200,000 from the Undesignated Fund, all in an effort to try and approach the LD1 assessment cap.
The budget committee, made up of representatives from towns in Franklin County, will review a budget of $5,210,612 in estimated expenditures. The figure includes the $1.6 million for the jail, a number set by a state board.
Projected county revenue figures are down, from $750,500 in fiscal year 2009-2010 to $656,000. That figure accounts for funds released from the Undesignated Fund; last year the commissioners and treasurer developed a plan to release $350,000, compared to this year’s $200,000. The health of the fund prompts that decision.
The local assessments on the towns would be $4,365,012 if the budget was passed as read, representing a $215,000 increase from the previous year. That 5.17 percent increase places the assessments roughly $165,000 over the current, projected LD1 cap.
The commissioners cut more than $100,000 out of the original requests of department heads and organizations. This includes scrapping the idea of a finance director, who would have taken over accounting duties from the traditionally the province of the County Treasurer, an elected position. The 35-hour position would have cost the county $33,215 annually. Roughly half the expense of that new position would be offset by reductions in the treasurer and deputy treasurer stipends; $16,147 down to $12,000 and $13,814 down to $1,500, respectively.
Commissioners instead decided to take a wait-and-see approach, hoping that a replacement for retiring Treasurer Karen Robinson, who is extremely experienced in county finance, can be found. Running for treasurer this year are Fred O Smith II, of Farmington, Mary Frank, also of Farmington, and Pamela Prodan, of Wilton.
The commissioners also declined to offer a cost of living adjustment, or COLA, to non-union county employees. Union employees are in the process of negotiating a contract with the county, and the budget cannot assume an outcome in those negotiations in regards to COLA.
Probate Judge Dick Morton argued Tuesday that certain employees in elected positions, such as the Register of Deeds Susan Black and Register of Probate Joyce Morton, who work full-time jobs at the courthouse, should be able to receive some compensation for their years of service. Joyce Morton, for instance, has worked at the courthouse for 41 years, double the current pay scale’s ability to compensate.
“It does not show proper recognition for their services or ability,” Dick Morton said.
Commissioners argued that elected positions should receive the same zero COLA increases as everyone else, noting that the employees could also bring their case before the budget committee.
In a piece of good news, County Clerk Julie Magoon advised commissioners they could remove $50,000 in the budget earmarked for stairwell code compliance issues. Smith Reuter and Lull, and architecture firm out of Lewiston, had developed preliminary plans which look relatively inexpensive.
The budget committee will consider the budget next, with their first, organizational meeting scheduled for April 22.
