MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska’s Select Board and finance committee set a 2026 municipal budget plan in place during a joint meeting Tuesday.
The groups will introduce a first look at budget numbers next month.
This year, the town could face higher real estate valuations, with increases ranging from 11% to 29% depending on how each category has changed in the market. Madawaska isn’t alone, Town Manager David Daigle said previously. About 65 other Aroostook County towns will have to undergo full revaluations because of increasing property prices.
In 2025, Madawaska set its final municipal budget to $9.96 million, a $910,000 increase over the previous year. Town revenues increased in 2025 by $241,811, going from $13.94 million to $14.18 million.
In November, the town set its mill rate to 23.25, representing a 0.25 mill increase from the previous year.
The Select Board and finance committee will start exploring budget figures during their next joint meeting on Feb. 10. That’s a change from the originally scheduled Feb. 3 date. The town relies on insurance and state figures to propose a budget, Selectboard Chairperson Jason Boucher said.
“Those won’t be in place by the 3rd,” Boucher said, “so we’re going to push that meeting off.”
Members on Feb. 10 will consider some budgets, like elections, that do not change as much over time. They will consider overviews of town department budgets on March 3.
Board members also set a tentative timeframe of 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. for budget discussion sessions.
New finance committee members introduced themselves, and Boucher discussed how meetings will involve looking at newly proposed budgets and asking municipal department heads about any changes.
“No question is off the table,” Boucher said. “Nobody takes anything personally, and we want to make sure that you guys don’t leave here with a question unanswered.”
Finance Committee Chair Renee Deschaine, who is also on the Select Board, said her group will start holding secondary meetings after the first round of budget discussions.
Residents will vote on the budget at the annual town meeting, typically set in June, and will see on the warrant which items were recommended by each committee.
Sometimes the two committees don’t always agree on a funding item, but Boucher said he would like to see everyone come to a consensus if possible.
“If a budget item has to change and we can compromise on those things, and it works out that we all agree, then the town meeting is going to go a little bit smoother,” he said. “But there is nothing wrong with dissenting votes. It’s part of the democratic process.”
