FARMINGTON — The Franklin County Budget Committee will resume its review Tuesday of the proposed $5.25 million budget for 2011-12.
The Budget Committee will meet at 4 p.m. on May 3, at the county courthouse. The Committee has called back some organizations requesting program grants to review proposals, county Deputy Clerk/Deputy Treasurer Charisse Keach said.
Those organizations are Western Maine Community Action, which is requesting $9,500, which is $9,500 more than current year’s budgeted amount; Adult Basic Education, $22,557, which is up $657; Tri-County Mental Health, $35,000, which is up $5,000; and Greater Franklin Development Corp., $60,000, which is the same as it has been for several years.
Commissioners approved the overall program grant requests on April 19 at $287,017, which is $5,000 less than requested by reducing Tri-Mental Health grant to $30,000 instead of $35,000.
Commissioners conducted their review last week and approved a $5.25 million budget that is $4,500 more than department requests. It includes $1.6 million for the jail. The proposal represents a $214,045 increase over the current budget. After $580,600 in anticipated revenues are factored in, it would leave $4.67 million for the towns that pay county taxpayers to share.
Commissioners tweaked some budget areas including decreasing the gas account line for the Sheriff Department from $70,000 to $60,000 and adding in additional funds for renovations and improvements to the county courthouse, according to budget information.
There is also money in the budget to allow the District Attorney’s Office to rent space at Church Street Commons, across the street from the county courthouse. This will allow the staff in that department to move out of the basement of the courthouse.
The budget does not include funds to move the other county government offices out of the courthouse and into leased space at Cousineau Properties on High Street. That would have cost a $150,000 a year if there was a 15-year lease obtained.
After the Budget Committee finishes review of the budget, members will set a public hearing on their proposal before adopting a budget. The Committee’s budget would then go to commissioners for their approval. Commissioners can vote to override the Committee’s proposal by a two-thirds vote. However, the budget would then return to the Budget Committee for reconsideration.
dperry@sunjournal.com
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