MACHIAS, Maine — The Washington County budget process for the coming year is going to be a painful one, according to the chairman of the county commission.
After all department heads submitted their requests for the 2016 budget year that starts Jan. 1, the total hit $6,412,477, or $330,538 over last year, Chairman Chris Gardner said during the commissioners’ Sept. 3 meeting.
He stressed, however, that the figures represent what is considered to be the “starting point” for the new budget.
The numbers will be turned over to the budget advisory committee, made up of 10 elected officials from around the county who will then craft a budget proposal to present to the three-member commission, Gardner said.
“There’s going to be some tough decisions in this budget,” he warned.
Gardner blamed escalating health care costs for the proposed budget increase.
“The fat’s been gone for a long time,” said Gardner, adding that the budget process requires “shaving off the bone.”
As initially proposed, the 2016 budget calls for raising an additional $326,377.77 in taxes or 6.09 percent over last year.
Gardner described the county as a business with the 47 municipalities being the business owners and the commissioners being just management.
The budget advisory committee will hold its first meeting on Sept. 22 with the group meeting again periodically throughout the fall. During that time, there will be “back and forth” between committee members and department heads as they work through the details and try to pare the budget down, he said.
The process must be completed by the end of the year.
The commissioners will have the right to reject the budget as presented by the committee. However, Gardner said, it is unlikely they would.
“We respect the budget committee,” he said. “We really do lean upon them to craft the budget.”