MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska’s Select Board and finance committee discussed a number of potential budget cuts during a Monday meeting in which they went over the capital purchases and reserves budget.
The total capital purchases and reserves budget, as presented to the board on Monday, was $1.38 million — an $826,314 increase over last year’s approved total of $549,240.
The largest single line item contributing to this increase was $300,000 set aside for the town’s Village Partnership Initiative (VPI) project. This project is a collaboration between the town and the Maine Department of Transportation that involves making once-in-a-generation improvements to the downtown and village center roads in communities that focus on walkability, environmental impact and ADA compliance.
Madawaska is one of several Aroostook County towns involved in the project, which only requires a 10 percent match from municipalities. In Madawaska’s case, the project is estimated to cost $20 million, meaning the town’s share would be roughly $2 million.
The $300,000 was set aside in case any early preliminary engineering costs come up. Select Board Chair Jason Boucher said that, in speaking with Town Manager David Daigle and Finance Director Caryl Albert, it was decided that it would be better to create a special warrant item at the town’s upcoming annual meeting in which voters could authorize the town spending up to $300,000 if those costs come up.
If voters approve the warrant item, the town would not need to hold an additional special town meeting to approve spending the money, if those costs come up.
“Ultimately it goes to the taxpayers for their vote,” Boucher said. “And it saves us later on from having to go to a special town meeting, and paying extra for that. And if we don’t need the money, the taxpayers don’t get burdened for it.”
Another significant increase in the proposed budget was to add $175,000 to the ambulance reserve account. Select Board member Jenney Dionne asked Ambulance Director Eric Cyr if it was possible to reduce this amount.
Cyr said they could entertain that idea, but that some of the reserve funds are being used to make lease payments on one of their vehicles, and it could put the department in a difficult position if a piece of equipment breaks down or needs to be replaced.
The payments are $65,000 annually until 2028, at which time the department anticipates likely needing another ambulance.
“Let’s keep in mind, this isn’t just for ambulance purchases,” Cyr said. “This can also be used for large equipment purchases, like stretchers and cardiac monitors, and those can range from $25,000 to $75,000 depending on what you’re buying. New cardiac monitors right now are at $64,000 a piece.”
The board ultimately agreed to reduce this from $175,000 to $100,000, which would ensure that lease payments are made while still having some leftover funds.
The board also discussed a total of $147,054 in capital purchase requests. Out of this, the board agreed to hold off on a proposed $15,000 upgrade to the municipal employee time clocks to a web-based system.
Other items under capital requests include a $42,000 surveillance system at the multi-purpose center and safety complex buildings and $26,050 for police body and dash cameras and a new server for data storage.
Earlier this month, town officials discussed how Madawaska’s share of county taxes could also see a sharp increase this year. The town had budgeted $650,062 for county taxes for the 2024-25 fiscal year, but could see that number increase by $253,635 to $903,697 this year based on preliminary estimates provided by the county government that assume a 20 percent budget increase.
