March 28, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Waldo County budget panel OKs budget

BELFAST — The Waldo County Budget Committee approved a 1993 budget of $1,732,745 Wednesday night, adding back several items it cut two weeks ago, including a new Sheriff’s Department cruiser.

The new budget is about 8 percent more than this year’s, which is expected to be overspent by about $150,000. In passing the 1993 budget, the committee issued a stern directive to the County Commissioners, charging them to keep spending in line.

The commissioners approved two new cruisers during budget deliberations, but the committee eliminated one at its meeting Dec. 19. With a light bar, cage and extended warranty, that amounted to a saving of $18,200.

Sheriff John Ford described to the committee the condition of his aging fleet, which has four cruisers with substantially more than 100,000 miles on them. Ford’s case was bolstered by several supporters from towns throughout the county, who testified to the improved law enforcement in the county during the sheriff’s two years in office.

County Commissioner Melvin Shute reminded the committee that the commissioners had struck a deal with Ford to approve the two cruisers in exchange for eliminating from the budget a van to transport jail prisoners.

Although Ford had planned to keep the two oldest cruisers as spares, he agreed with the committee’s request to retire one old cruiser to reduce insurance and repair costs. To spread out the cost of the cruisers, one will be purchased early next year and the other next summer.

The committee also restored $800 it cut from the Waldo County Transportation Service on Dec. 19, bringing that appropriation back to $4,800. The service provides bus transportation throughout the county, primarily to the elderly.

The committee added $1,100 to the account for debt service for interest on a note to replace the 19 dilapidated toilets at the county jail. Ford had planned to begin replacing the leaky fixtures one at a time this year, at an estimated $2,000 each, but the commitee decided to fund the entire project at once to end the frequent plumber’s calls and expensive water damage.

There was considerable discussion on the $37,916 recommended by the commissioners for the Extension Service, with some committee members unsure of the value of the services provided by the Extension. A motion by committee member Roland Ginn of Winterport to cut that account by $10,000, seconded by Paul Boardman of Islesboro, failed by a vote of 6-2 and the full recommendation was approved.


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