BUCKSPORT, Maine — The town’s fund balance outlook continues to improve, according to Town Manager Jacob Gran. The town is projected to finish fiscal year 2026 with a $250,000 surplus, Gran said in relaying the fourth quarter financial report.
Gran wrote in a memo to town councilors that the figures were preliminary, as the annual audit has not been conducted yet.
Bucksport collected approximately $15.38 million in its general fund, a 2% increase, Gran wrote, while $15.18 million was spent, or about 99.93% of the approved budget.
“Careful spending, targeted revenue improvements, and strong oversight from the Town Council, department heads, and staff helped strengthen the Town’s overall financial position,” Gran wrote.
Additional revenue was generated through the sale of town equipment and two town-owned properties, as well as through an increase in ambulance user fees, Gran said. He also pointed out the town’s new sticker program at the transfer station, where residents and small business owners now pay $20 per year for a sticker to access the transfer station.
“Although the sticker program was only in place for the final month of the fiscal year, it generated approximately 45% of all solid waste revenues, highlighting its value as a long-term funding source,” Gran said.
The ambulance user fees had not been adjusted for seven years, the town manager added. Bucksport also uses a third-party billing service that has helped increase ambulance revenue.
“They just have the resources that the town didn’t,” Gran said at the committee meeting.
Gran also pointed out $433,000 in non-collectable ambulance bills that were not previously included in town budgets. Adding this figure gives a truer picture of the town’s finances, he added.
Councilor Paul Rabs said the surplus amount does not include higher fire and ambulance contracts with Orland and Verona Island, which took effect on July 1.
The town has also benefited from the sale of equipment and some town properties, Gran said. Bucksport has sold land on Mechanic Street and 124 School St., also known as the old fire station, to Chris Pepin of Orrington for a combined $87,500.
Councilor Tracey Hair praised the efforts of town staff for their help in producing the surplus; “I didn’t think we would land here,” she said.
Gran also praised the Town Council for their work on the fiscal year 2027 budget.
Fund balance
The final expected surplus figure will help the town as it rebuilds its fund balance, which has been depleted in recent years.
Councilors included $240,000 in the FY 2027 budget to be applied toward the fund balance. Additionally, councilors approved the dissolution of 10 special revenue accounts at the June 26 meeting.
The $94,554 from those accounts was transferred to seven current accounts.
The transfer wiped out deficits in the Electric Vehicle ($76), Christmas Lights-Downtown ($4,516), Community Development Block Grant ($12,916) and fire grants ($40,580) accounts, bringing them back to zero.
Another $4,251 was transferred to the police grants account, increasing the total to $7,863.
Finally, deficits were reduced in the general government grants (from $16,009 to $315.72) and ConnectME internet project (from $48,887 to $21,735) accounts.