Dover-Foxcroft officials adjusting for $212K budget revenue shortfall  

DOVER-FOXCROFT — The COVID-19 pandemic is impacting all facets of the nation’s economy, including government coffers at the state and municipal level. Dover-Foxcroft officials are anticipating a near $212,000 combined shortfall between state revenue sharing and excise tax but adjustments have been made in the 2020-21 town budget.

“Obviously we had to hit the pause button on the budget process back in March because the budget advisory committee wasn’t able to meet,” Town Manager Jack Clukey said during a May 11 select meeting conducted via Zoom. “As we resume that process we need to look at the revised revenue projections based on what’s happened over the last eight months.”

He said the projections are that Dover-Foxcroft will receive nearly $149,000 less in state revenue sharing for a revised figure of $401,190 and $63,160 less in excise taxes money for a new amount totaling $726,305 as a result of the pandemic — for a combined total of $211,970 now needing to be accounted for.

“It’s pretty clear both of those revenue sources are going to be pretty reduced in fiscal year 2020-21,” Clukey said.

The current version gross total of the 2020-21 budget is approximately $5.33 million, down from the current amount of $5.4 million. After $2,394,000 in revenues, a figure more than $200,000 less than the 2019-20 figure of $2.6 million, an amount of $2,935,827 would need to be raised through property taxes. This net number is up by $49,855 from the year before.

“We think it is prudent to consider just under $212,000 less in revenue from these two sources,” Clukey said, saying the budget has been revised across various items to reflect the change.

The budget advisory committee was set to meet on Wednesday, May 13 via Zoom, and on Wednesday, May 20 the schedule has a joint meeting between the group and the selectmen.

The selectmen scheduled a public hearing on the 2020-21 budget for 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 3, to be conducted via Zoom.

Clukey said should the need arise, the budget advisory committee can meet on Wednesday, May 27. The selectmen were planning to hold the second May session that evening to avoid a Memorial Day conflict, but instead the board will meet Tuesday, May 26.

The RSU 68 budget meeting is normally held the day after Memorial Day, but the pandemic has also delayed the development of this spending plan.

Clukey said he spoke with RSU 68 Superintendent Stacy Shorey and “right now their projected assessment to us is down very slightly, it’s virtually a 0 percent increase.” He said the school district is also awaiting its figures from the state for the budget.

The town manager said the date for the annual town meeting is still to be determined. In Dover-Foxcroft residents approve a budget at this session in the first of a two-step process, with the approved spending plan then going out to a referendum vote which this year will be held on Tuesday, July 14 in conjunction with the state primary.

“For the town meeting process there’s still not clarity for how we can have a town meeting in June,” Clukey said. He said that month gatherings of up to 50 people are permitted, but town officials need to be prepared should attendance figures exceed this amount or look into a Zoom meeting should this be a possibility.

He said the Maine Municipal Association has made a request to Gov. Janet Mills to bring additional clarification to this given the limits on gathering in effect for June. “With the way we have our timeline set up we should be able to go in whatever direction we need to,” Clukey said.

In other business,  the selectmen approved a solar power purchase agreement between the town and ReVision Energy to provide the town with net metering credits at a fixed price to offset future electricity costs.  The agreement is for an initial 20-year term and up to two additional 5-year terms and represents a fixed price up to 85% of the town’s annual electricity costs.

When asked about the savings Finance Director Dave Johnson said, “Roughly what I saw is it’s about $20,000 a year.”

“If everything stays the same it would be $20,000 a year over 20 years,” Clukey added, with this figure equaling $400,000.

The board also approved a lease agreement for hangars at the Charles A. Chase Memorial Airport on Pine Street. 

Clukey said the lease is based on that used in Dexter. “Probably the biggest change in this is it goes from $50 a year for a hanger to $100 a year,” the town manager said.

He said pilot Chris Arno is interested in building a hangar at a location where a structure was recently removed, and the selectmen approved entering in a lease agreement with Arno under the new terms.

Town officials opted to close the municipal beach on Sebec Lake for the remainder of the month after this issue was brought up. A decision on when to open could be made during the May 26 meeting.

“Memorial Day weekend, historically we have a very busy beach,” Clukey said, mentioning that the recreational area would likely have far more than 10 users even if the trend of an unusually cold spring continues.

“We have closed two playgrounds and the beach would be our third closed outdoor area,” he said, as social distancing is difficult to maintain at these sites. Clukey said signs would be placed leading to the beach and the parking area will be roped off.

Barring planned clean-up work for downed trees, Browns Mill Park along the Piscatquis River is open Clukey said.

“Cleanup, that is a theme that will continue for most of the year,” he said as the town removes debris caused by the mid-April heavy snowstorm with high winds that knocked out power for multiple days.