Council reviews budget
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — City Manager Jim Bennett provided councilors with a preview of the proposed 2012 budget during the Council’s Monday night meeting at City Hall.
Bennett, with the assistance of Finance Director Pat Webb, went over each department’s portion of the budget and what, if any, changes had been made from the 2011 document.
“Tonight what the schedule calls for is for Pat and I to answer questions, point out changes. Next Monday will be more for each department and for you to ask more in-depth questions of each department,” said Bennett.
The city manager indicated councilors have two major items to consider as they move through the process of finalizing next year’s budget.
“Two components remain — a menu of choices to reduce (the budget) by 1 mil and also alternatives for solid waste. Neither is ready yet. Those may come next week, depending how the week goes work-wise,” said Bennett.
“I’m not sure where you are in the process. If we had solid waste first it would be helpful. That’s our real stickler I think,” noted Councilor Mel Hovey.
Bennett indicated the solid waste portion has been difficult to put together. He pointed out that the airport and solid waste are the only two departments whose budget sections are fundamentally different than those of other departments.
“Solid waste and the airport’s budgets are basically stand-alone,” he said.
The city manager said with the changes in the past year to solid waste, it’s been hard to determine details for next year’s budget.
“That’s the one most difficult to do. Decisions aren’t coming easily,” Bennett said.
Of all the departments, Bennett indicated fire and police have undergone the biggest changes.
At the fire station, the department is down two full-time firefighters and has incorporated the code enforcement officer and his administrative assistant. In addition, a deputy chief’s position is being created and those who served as deputy chiefs on their respective shifts will transition to captains’ positions.
“This budget reflects the reduction of two full-time firefighters from a year ago, as well as the transition of code enforcement officer to that department. This reflects an elimination of three full-time positions,” said the city manager.
The police department has also undergone some personnel changes in an effort to reduce expenses.
“The police budget reflects one less person, with the MDEA person from last year eliminated. (William Campbell left the PIPD/MDEA to take the chief of police position in Fort Fairfield.) We also had two full-time officers get done and we’ve replaced them with dispatchers. We have one more to go,” said Bennett.
Council Chair Emily Smith questioned how the loss of dispatching duties for Ashland has affected the department’s finances. Bennett indicated losing dispatch duties for Ashland meant a loss of over $10,000 annually for the PIPD.
Bennett said overtime has been another concern but what shows on the books isn’t all the responsibility of the city.
“Some of the overtime is covered by various grants. Matt’s (Irwin, chief of police) managing — could cover some overtime through other sources, grants, etc.,” said Bennett.
One of the major concerns police have been faced with, according to Bennett, has been prisoner expenses.
“The Public Safety Building, with rare exception, hasn’t housed prisoners. Thousands were spent on cells but we can’t manage prisoners” due to lack of funding for officers to manage that part of the department, said Bennett. “The challenge is to find a way to reconfigure and better use that space.”
Bennett mentioned, as one option, possibly using the space as sleeping quarters for firefighters. He encouraged councilors to come up with ideas for ways the space could better be used. Bennett noted, however, the limited possibilities, given the structure was built with security in mind.
Prisoner transport has been another financial burden to the department.
“The practice prior to Matt coming on board was we took prisoners to Houlton. We paid overtime or simply didn’t arrest them — if pulled over, officers would simply give warnings about outstanding warrants,” said Bennett, indicating more arrests are now being made since a less-costly alternative for arrests and confinement have been made with the Caribou Police Department.
“Matt has worked a deal with the CPD — $50 per prisoner and $7.50 per meal. That cuts down on overtime, wear and tear on vehicles and addresses the issue of people not getting arrested even though there are warrants,” said Bennett.
Council will continue discussing the proposed 2012 budget on Monday, Oct. 24, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. For more information, call 760-2785.
