The Town Council approved a budget last week of $13 million, more than 13% over this year’s budget, with most of the increase due to a local ambulance service approved by voters last May.
A large part of the increased budget, which will go before voters at annual Town Meeting on May 19, is also due to increased employee benefits, according to Jennifer Janelle, assistant town manager and finance director.
With increased revenue of $34,698 to help offset expenses, the amount to be paid by taxpayers is up 13.03% from last year, said Janelle.
The town’s Fire Department budget went from $566,000 to $1.6 million as a result of the new emergency and ambulance staff, though the town no longer has to pay $294,700 for a contract with York Ambulance, according to the budget proposal. See related story HERE.
The town’s salaries and benefits rose by $611,950 to $2.48 million, and police by $113,542 to $1.86 million, according to the proposal.
The Town Council last week approved 14 warrant articles covering the spending package voters will be asked to approve for the fiscal year beginning July 2026. A public hearing on the pending budget is set for 6 p.m. April 14 in the Town Hall auditorium.
While discussing the budget at the March 24 meeting, the council agreed to reinstate $40,000 it had cut from the Police Department’s budget request for next year, which had been submitted by Chief David Ruger.
Ruger told the council increases were due in part to more police details being requested at special town activities.
Events that do not pay for police coverage cost the department in staffing, equipment and overtime that “place a great deal of strain on our limited resources.” Ruger said.
Requiring privately organized events such as Strawberry Festival and the Christmas Parade to pay for police details in the same way Pumpkinman Race and Marshwood school sports do would “significantly” ease the strain, he added.
Council Chair John James calculated that reinstating the $40,000 “would only cost taxpayers a few cents more.”
The council voted 4-1 to reinstate the funds, with Councilor Joel Martin the sole “no” vote on the reversal.
In other business at the March 24 council meeting:
- The council voted to interview the latest applicant to the Community Art Committee, Russ Renshaw, at 5:30 p.m. April 14. The recently established committee will be responsible for art installations in Town Hall and throughout the downtown district.
- The council approved license renewals for marijuana businesses Grove Cannabis at 297 Main St. and Caberski Industries, which operates Hidden Greens at 436 Main St. It also approved public hearings for marijuana businesses Flora at 566 Emery’s Bridge Road and 599 LLC at 599 Emery’s Bridge Road, both of them at 6 p.m. April 14 immediately following a budget public hearing.
- DeCarlo Brown, the town’s director of planning and economic development, provided an update on the Planning Board’s effort to have the town’s 2024 Comprehensive Plan meet state mandates on denser residential growth. Areas of South Berwick that have or could have sidewalks or on-street parking are now being considered for the growth area, Brown indicated.
- A council interview with Brooke Cobbett, an applicant for the Board of Assessment Review, will take place at 5:45 p.m. on April 14.
