Staff Writer

If Kennebunkport Town Manager Larry Mead’s proposed $5.8 million municipal budget is accepted as presented, the budget will result in a 6.5 percent decrease from the current budget. While the tax commitment for the town is expected to decrease, a 2 percent increase in school funding will result in a flat mil rate of $16.15 per $1,000 of valuation.

“This is what I’m recommending, and it’s the way I think most appropriate for the overall long term financial stability of the town,” Mead said, following the March 5 presentation of the proposed fiscal year 2009-2010 budget.  

With non-property tax revenue down nearly 16.5 percent, Mead said he considers personnel costs, Kennebunkport Emergency Medical Service funding, joint funding of a youth services director with Kennebunk, the local circuit breaker program and fire department budget to be major costs in formulating the upcoming proposed budget.

“Personnel costs and benefits make up more than 50 percent of the budget,” Mead said. 

To cut back on some of that cost, he said the town will freeze current wages and cut two full time positions, including a police patrolman and an equipment operator in the highway department and reduce the assessor’s assistant position to 22 hours a week. 

The patrolman’s position has already been eliminated, and Police Chief Joe Bruni said he helped the officer find a new job with the Biddeford Police Department. The elimination of the highway department position and reduced hours for assessor’s assistant Lorraine Brooks, who Mead said is willing to work fewer hours, will be effective July 1. 

Mead also recommended the town cut funding for the youth services coordinator, which was $24,000 of the current budget. 

“The services provided are intangible,” Mead said. “The police can serve as a primary referral. We can meet the needs through other means.”

Mead said after consulting the police and public health departments, he determined those two departments in town can serve as a resource for the five to seven referrals a year. 

While the patrolman position has already been eliminated and Brooks is willing to accept a cut in hours, budget board member Grace Adams suggested maintaining the highway department position. 

“There’s got to be a project or a piece of equipment out there so we don’t have to lay someone off,” Adams said. 

“We really don’t need to dispose of the position,” Selectman Alan Daggett said. “We need to cut some money out of capital spending and maybe look at it again next year.”

“There’s more than one way to make those decisions and cut the budget. If people have other ideas, I’ll respect those decisions,” Mead said. 

While the majority of departments will receive a decrease from last year’s budget, Mead said Kennebunkport Emergency Medical Service requested a 38 percent increase. Mead is recommending the town allocate the same funding as last year, $91,875, and approve a $20,000 contingency account to be disbursed by selectmen if needed. 

“It’s a vital service to the town and a comfort. There are ways to change the operating structure, but we should keep the services going,” Mead said, adding he requested the department present a plan to selectmen to reduce operating costs by October. 

Mead is also recommending a 6 percent increase for the fire department to fund additional training, as well as maintenance and repair for equipment. With Chief Paul Moshimer hired this fall, Mead said the department is still in transition and he wants to encourage member recruitment. 

“I’m trying to figure out equipment and bringing back staff,” Moshimer said. “Some of the apparatuses are more than 20 years old and the average age of our call force is 45 years old.”

Another increase in the budget is the establishment of a local circuit breaker program. Mead said residents approved $80,000 in November to provide property tax relief to low and moderate-income residents struggling with property tax. About 250 residents benefiting from the state program would benefit from the local program as well, Mead said. 

“These aren’t easy times and we know that. The economy is weighing down on residents and businesses, and there’s a lot of anxiety out there,” Mead said. 

Budget meetings are scheduled throughout March ahead of the June town meeting vote.