Spending plan for County up by 6.5 percent

CARIBOU – After five years of budgets with decreases, the proposed spending plan for 2001 for Aroostook County government reflects an increase of 6.5 percent in expenditures.

The $5.3 million budget, which funds agencies such as the District Attorney’s Office, the county jail and the sheriff’s department, will be discussed at a public hearing at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 20, in the Aroostook County Superior Courtroom in Caribou.

“This is the first year … we obviously haven’t been able to hold the line,” Roland “Danny” Martin, county administrator, said Sunday.

Increased costs in health insurance, fuel and the cost of housing prisoners and attending to their needs have contributed to the increase, according to Martin.

The $5.3 million spending plan requires $3.3 million to be raised in taxes, a 7.57 percent increase.

The jail budget shows an increase of 17.49 percent, or $154,378, for 2001. Included in that figure is a $33,000 increase for the costs of boarding prisoners outside of Aroostook County.

Martin said when the Aroostook County Jail in Houlton is full, prisoners are boarded at other facilities. Although the county has reciprocity agreements with other counties, at times the county has to pay for boarding at a rate of $100 per day per prisoner.

Martin said that the inmate population has increased throughout the state. “The trend is not isolated to Aroostook County,” said Martin.

Simultaneously, the cost of providing prescription drugs for the prisoners has increased from $12,500 to $23,000, as a result of the higher inmate population.

Gasoline and heating fuel prices also have taken a toll on the budget, according to the proposal. For example, the transportation account shows a 44.4 percent increase from $9,000 to $13,000. Fuel for the courthouse and jail in Houlton is up 25 percent, a $9,000 increase.

Fuel costs for the Caribou court house rose 46.6 percent from $7,500 to $11,000.

The County also has to pay for a 53rd payroll this year, which increased the budget by about $44,000, according to Martin.

The budget also includes a 3.5 percent cost-of-living pay raise for all union and nonunion employees.

To offset some of the increases, other line items, such as office supplies, books, periodicals and vehicle maintenance and repairs were reduced.

On the revenue side, commissioners have proposed taking $365,000 from the surplus account to reduce the tax commitment, which would leave $300,000 in surplus, the smallest amount in that account for several years, according to Martin.

Less income is projected from the Registry of Deeds offices in Houlton and Fort Kent, according to Martin.

When compared with other Maine counties, Martin said that Aroostook County is holding its own with the increases.

The 2001 budget has been mailed to all municipalities, as prescribed by law, and Martin said he has not received any comment on the spending plan.

“We’re within the ballpark,” said Martin.

Also to be considered Tuesday is $887,630 to render services to the unorganized territories, which is a 2.34 percent increase over last year. To fund the budget, $592,930 is proposed to be raised in taxes, a 1.75 percent increase.