Commissioners approve county, UT budgets
DOVER-FOXCROFT — Two weeks after program cuts to a dozen organizations in an earlier version of the 2026 Piscataquis County budget were restored, some partially and some in full compared to the current year, both the county budget and 2026-27 Unorganized Territory budget were approved by the county commissioners during a meeting on Tuesday morning.
At the Dec. 2 meeting county officials restored over $102,000 in funding for the 12 groups.
Commissioner Paul Davis made a motion then to fund $1,500 for the Moosehead Lake Economic Development Corporation, $1,500 for Destination Moosehead Lake, $30,000 for the Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, $500 for Penquis CAP, $500 for Eastern Area Agency on Aging, $1,800 for the Piscataquis Regional Food Center, $20,000 for the Piscataquis Area Community Center, $2,200 for hospice, $13,500 for the Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District, $27,534 for University of Maine Cooperative Extension and $1,800 for the Bangor Area Homeless Shelter.
Davis’ motion also had county salaries being held to a 4.25% increase, per the recommendation of County Manager Michael Williams.
At the commissioners second meeting in November, six of the 12 program grants were restored following a public hearing the night before in which about two dozen people attended with 10 speaking against the program grant cuts. The figures for these half dozen remained the same in Davis’ proposal.
The commissioners wanted to be respectful to the spirit of what the budget advisory committee sent to them, Commissioners Chair Andrew Torbett said last month. The committee wanted to see spending reigned in where the budget has been climbing quite a bit in the last few cycles.
The current year’s county budget, which follows a calendar year timeline, includes the same figures for Cooperative Extension, the soil and water district, hospice and homeless shelter. The food center share would be down from $5,000 and the community center’s is a brand new request with the organization launching earlier this year. These were all added back into the budget two weeks prior.
The $500 for Penquis CAP is the first Piscataquis County funding for the organization in several years.
Program grants restored on Dec. 2 that are down from 2025 are Piscataquis County Economic Development Council, $30,000 from $60,000; Piscataquis Chamber of Commerce, $1,500 from $4,500; Destination Moosehead Lake and Moosehead Lake Economic Development Council, $1,500 from $3,500 for each; and Eastern Area Agency on Aging, $500 from $5,000.
The budget advisory committee met several times in September and October and recommended finances for the commissioners to consider.
The commissioners need to vote on the county and UT budgets within 15 days of the end of the current budget, and Tuesday Dec. 16 meets this deadline.
Before the adjustments from Dec. 2, the proposed 2026 Piscataquis County budget totaled $7,119,933. This figure is up by nearly $325,000 (4.78%) from 2025’s $6,794,951.
After applying $933,601 in county revenues, a net amount of $6,186,333 needs to be raised proportionally through taxes across the 18 county towns and plantations.
The largest 2026 assessment is $820,531 for Greenville, followed by $758,902 for Dover-Foxcroft, respective increases of nearly $23,000 and $43,400.
Wellington would have the smallest county assessment at $51,171, followed by $55,354 for Medford with these figures being up by $3,368 and $838 respectively.
The 2026-27 UT budget shows a proposed total of $3,076,525, a $417,800 increase (15.7%).
A summary sheet of the budgets says the lion’s share of the overall rise is due to increases in capital accounts and is offset with undesignated funds so there is no increase to the taxpayer on the UT budget.
In other business, Torbett, R-Atkinson Township announced that he plans to run for the Maine House District 31 seat next fall.
“I will still be a county commissioner until whatever happens,” he said. Torbett requested his name be removed from consideration for commissioners chair or vice chair when these positions are decided on next month.
Torbett’s term as a county commissioner runs through the end of 2028 and he would step down if elected to the Maine House.
Rep. Chad Perkins, R-Dover-Foxcroft will be running for the Maine Senate District 4 seat, Torbett said. Sen. Stacey Guerin, R-Glenburn is in her fourth and final term, having reached her term limit.
Probate Register Donna Peterson said she will not be running for reelection next year. Peterson has worked in the county since the early 2000s.