Dexter council approves $6.9M budget
DEXTER — The Dexter Town Council approved a $6,913,918 municipal budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year during a July 14 meeting.
This gross figure, which in addition to $4.6 million-plus in town operations, includes approximately $375,000 for the community’s portion of the Penobscot County tax and nearly $1.9 million for the SAD 46 budget. It is up by $148,804 from the year before.
Town Manager Trampas King thanked the council and department heads for their efforts in developing the spending plan.
“I think it’s a fair budget,” he said. “We’re looking into the future, not just short-term.”
The $6.9 million will be partially offset by $2,217,293 in revenues, an amount up by $6,722 from 2021-22. The net budget is $4,696,625, a $142,082 increase.
Councilor Peter Haskell cited the rise in fuel prices as the big reason for the increase to the budget. He said that otherwise, most town expenses would be very similar to the previous fiscal year.
The council set the 2022-23 mill rate at $20, an increase of 40 cents per every $1,000 assessed property. The previous two years’ mill rates were each $19.60.
Councilors also set Oct. 14 as the due date for this year’s property taxes, with the interest rate for the outstanding balance paid after the date to be 4 percent per annum (down from 6 percent in 2021-22).
In other business, King said the week before an announcement was made saying the Dexter Regional Airport will receive $760,000 in federal funds for a new terminal building and reconstruction of the access road.
“This is a grant above and beyond what we get in the year,” he said, mentioning an approximate $150,000 annual figure.
The project consists of the construction of a new 800-square-foot terminal building, replacing the existing 50-year-old, 200-square-foot terminal building, and the reconstruction of the access road.
The current terminal building is beyond its useful life and does not meet current standards or needs for a basic general aviation terminal building. It also does not meet ADA requirements or energy efficiency standards. The new terminal building will enhance and meet all of these needs and requirements.
King said the airport committee would meet next week to discuss the project.
The town manager also mentioned events scheduled for the first two weekends of August, starting with the Wings for Wishes Fly-In to benefit Make-A-Wish Maine and Dexter Sunrise Kiwanis Cruise In, which both will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 6, at the airport. The rain date will be from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 7.
“If we join together, we get a better turnout of people,” King said.
The 2022 Maine Red Hot Dog Festival will feature a day of events from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 13.