Dover-Foxcroft braces for potential $932,000 county budget bill
DOVER-FOXCROFT — The town of Dover-Foxcroft could pay about $932,000 for its share of the $7 million 2027 Piscataquis County budget.
This figure is up by more than $161,500, or 21%, from the current $771,000. With costs and expenses rising for everyone, Dover-Foxcroft officials want a say in the discussions to develop next year’s county budget.
Together Dover-Foxcroft and Greenville — which have the highest valuations among the 18 communities — pay more than a quarter of the county budget.
The Piscataquis County Budget Advisory Committee will bring finances for both the county and Unorganized Territories to the county commissioners. A public hearing is typically held in mid- to late November and the commissioners approve the two budgets at a December meeting.
The increase in the county budget is due in part to the Piscataquis County Sheriff’s Office negotiating contracts with employees, Dover-Foxcroft Town Manager Alsina Brenenstuhl said last month.
The communities and others across Maine experienced a housing boom during the pandemic, and valuations are now catching up, Brenenstuhl said during an Oct. 8 Select Board meeting.
Towns pay county taxes, but do not have a direct say in the county budget development process.
The town has its own police department while paying toward the sheriff’s office and Maine State Police, Selectperson Cindy Freeman Cyr said, adding she wondered what future arrangements could look like.
Selectperson Jane Conroy attended the last budget advisory committee meeting and encouraged others to do so, though the agenda allows little public comment until the November hearing.
Dover-Foxcroft recoups some money by providing fire and emergency medical services to Atkinson Township. The town has not had a contract for fire coverage in Atkinson Township with the county in several years. Instead the county pays Dover-Foxcroft per call.
Freeman Cyr also expressed concern with a decline in school enrollment.
The pre-K to grade 8 SeDoMoCha School has an enrollment of 592, 331 in the elementary school and 261 in the middle school. Enrollment is down nearly 60 students from one year ago while the special education numbers are increasing.
District officials have not determined why enrollment is falling, especially given that area homeschool numbers remain stable.
Superintendent Stacy Shorey will investigate and present her findings at a future school board meeting. She will see if similar trends are going on in southern Maine.
RSU 68 also serves the communities of Charleston, Monson and Sebec, contracts with Foxcroft Academy for secondary education.
The Select Board meets with Shorey and Foxcroft Academy Head of School Arnold Shorey at least once a year. The Shoreys, who are married, will be invited to an upcoming meeting.