AUBURN — Following a compromise on the rate of increase for cost-of-living adjustments for non-union employees, the Androscoggin County Commission approved its 2023 county budget.
The roughly $17.3 million budget passed by a 6-1 vote, with only Commissioner Roland Poirier of Lewiston opposing the compromise.
The exact final numbers for the county budget will be determined after the effect of the COLA cut is determined, but the county tax increase will be less than the proposed 8.45 increase.
Interim County Administrator Clarice Proctor had proposed a 5% COLA for non-union employees, but Commissioner Garrett Mason of Lisbon thought it was too high. He added his belief that COLAs are not raises. He pledged to have the county embark on a professional study on salaries. If the survey finds that county wages are too low, Mason said he would support raising them or adding additional steps.
Poirier noted that department heads were having a difficult time retaining staff.
A representative from the District Attorney’s office agreed, saying three of the 14 employees in the office have left in the last nine months, with one switching to a different county and doing the exact same job for $20,000 more.
“This sends a mixed message to our employees,” Commissioner Edouard Plourde of Lewiston said about the proposed COLA reduction. “People ought to be rewarded for good work. In this market, I think it would be a mistake.”
The Budget Committee made no recommendation on the COLA increase because they thought the amount could not be changed, said committee Chairman Phillip Crowell of Auburn and member Lisa Cesare of Minot.
After the budget vote with a 3% COLA failed, Mason and Plourde agreed on the 4% COLA compromise, which passed 6-1 with Mason, Plourde, Brian Ames of Lewiston, John Michael of Auburn, Terri Kelley of Mechanic Falls and Chairman Sally Christner of Turner voting in the affirmative.
Commissioners also made a couple of adjustments to the budget before the vote. Funding for the Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments was restored from zero to $7,979 following pleas from Crowell, Cesare and AVCOG Director Amy Landry, who said there was a seat on the board for the county that had been vacant for the past few years. In voting yes, Mason volunteered to serve on the AVCOG board.
Commissioners also agreed to increase revenues for interest from investments by $5,000. Christner convinced her board to cut $15,000 from the expected revenue for the real estate transfer tax due to what she said was a declining housing market.
Proposals to restore funding for the Androscoggin Extension Service and the Soil and Water Conservation at last year’s levels were agreed to by commissioners.
Cesare urged commissioners to amend the County Charter to change the number of Budget Committee members needed to make changes to the budget from 11 members (out of a total of 14) to a majority. Attendance was a problem this year with only one of the budget hearings having 11 members present. The board was also hurt with a vacancy from Lewiston that was never filled.
In other business, commissioners approved having Proctor speak to an attorney on a personnel matter concerning one of the unions.
At the start of the meeting, Christner noted the death of former commissioner Elmer Berry.
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