March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

County tax bills to show decrease> Piscataquis revenues, state valuations up

DOVER-FOXCROFT — A decrease of about 2 percent will be reflected in tax bills forwarded to Piscataquis County municipalities, plantations and unorganized territories for the operation of county government in 1998.

A county budget of $2,255,654 was unanimously approved Tuesday by Piscataquis County commissioners. The budget reflects about a $40,000 decrease from the original spending plan first introduced by the commissioners earlier this year.

A budget of $781,804 also was approved for the unorganized territories. This budget reflects an increase of 5.37 percent over last year’s spending plan and a 5 percent increase in assessments.

Although expenditures in the county budget increased by 3.66 percent over last year, assessments to the municipalities will decrease because of revenues and increased state valuations, according to chairman Eben DeWitt.

Changes made in the county budget prior to its adoption included the addition of $20,000 for economic development activities during the year. Also, the Emergency Management Agency account was decreased $12,139 by reducing personnel costs, contractual services and commodities. This reduction will mean an estimated $6,000 less in revenue for the county.

Nearly $4,000 was added to the courthouse account to increase the custodian’s work week to 40 hours.

The commissioners chose not to endorse the budget advisory committee’s recommendation to reduce by 3 percent the sheriff and jail accounts. Instead, reductions in these accounts resulted from decreases in the county’s insurance premiums. The jail account reflected a reduction of $1,500 in liability insurance and in the sheriff’s account, a reduction of $1,700. The latter account’s contractual services also was reduced by $1,700.

Two new accounts were decreased, that of federal marshal transport by $5,000 and telecommunications by $3,000. Money for part-time dispatchers was taken out of the latter account.

Other changes in the budget since the public hearing included a decrease of $2,500 in general insurance for the county, a decrease of $1,707 in personnel services for the Register of Deeds and a savings of $39,600 in Blue Cross and Blue Shield costs because of lower premiums. The county had budgeted an 8 percent increase for this insurance coverage.

Because of a legislative change in 1996, the commissioners have final say on the adoption of the county budget. While signing the document Tuesday, DeWitt said, “This is a lot easier than waiting six months for the Legislature to approve it.”

The commissioners extended their thanks to the advisory committee for its review of the spending plan.


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