By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — The Casco Board of Selectmen got their first glimpse at a proposed budget with which board members will become more familiar in the coming weeks.  

The town manager unveiled the budget on March 15. The selectmen partook in budget workshops on Monday and Tuesday. Next week, two nights out of the week will be dedicated to the budget as well.

One of the things that sets this proposed budget for the Town of Casco apart from previous years’ budgets: This is the first budget put together and presented by Town Manager Anthony Ward, who was hired in the autumn last year.

“It is with great pride that I present my first proposed Casco budget for fiscal year ’23 to the selectmen,” Ward said last week.

He mentioned to the board that since the municipality has had four different town managers in five years — including an interim one — since longtime manager Dave Morton retired, the board has seen many styles of presenting the budget. 

“My budget presentation differs from previous formats and also modifies some of the accounting practices within the budget,” Ward began.

“A major change in the presentation of department request is the centralization of benefits and utilities. This centralization of these cost centers diminishes staff accounting time and minimizes the probabilities for human error,” he said.

“So, all utilities are being removed from departments. All are transferred into a consolidated utilities line. We have 19 different CMP bills. We have multiple Spectrum bills. This just makes it easier,” he said. 

“The proposed budget continues some of the plan initiated in FY22 with the second payment of $37,000 for the completion of the comprehensive plan, increases in wages based on the completed salary survey, and continuation of the road maintenance plan,” he said.

“The most significant change in the budget are proposals to increase public work staffing by one full-time employee and to increase fire full-time staffing by two,” Ward said.

The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year has a total expense of $4,480,718, which is a slight increase compared to last year.

“The proposed operating budget has an increase of .47 percent or $20,771,” Ward said. 

“The operational budget does not include debt service or proposed capital expenditures. The proposed capital expenditures total $708,000 with $220,000 being raised from new tax funds and the remaining $488,00 from capital accounts and foreclosed property sales,” he said.

“The proposed debt service and capital expenditures would increase the budget by an additional 6% or $270,771,” he said. 

He explained his approach to capital expenditures, which helps to earmark money rather than letting unspent funds lapse into the general fund. 

“If we are going to raise new funds, request it under capital. First of all, the residents know what they are voting on for roads. If it is voted at town meeting as capital for roads, it can only be spent on roads,” Ward said. 

“The proposed budget includes an anticipated $75,829 in revenue. The selectboard has alternatives in their discussion relating to the use of special revenue or capital account relating to capital purchases and their effort to minimize the effect on taxpayers,” he said. 

He gave the selectmen the options to haveeither Excel spreadsheets or hard copy binders of the budget. 

“I believe this collaborative discussion will focus on the growth of Casco services while understanding the immediate financial impacts of increasing budgets on our taxpayers,” Ward said.