Chairman Jack Brennan paraphrased an ancient Greek philosopher-mathematician on April 2 in summarizing how the Edgecomb Budget Committee formulated a $4,190,266 combined FY 19 municipal and school budget recommendation. Brennan recited Pythagoras’s view on moderation: One must choose in all things a mean, just and good.

“The committee feels this budget is just for each department and good for you, the taxpayers,” Brennan said.

The proposed budget recommends a $243,246, or 6.7 percent, spending increase, but only asks taxpayers for a $107,097, or 3.1 percent, increase in the town assessment.

The four-person budget committee consisting of Brennan, Karen Potter, Joe McSwain and Janet Blevins began work in January reviewing the current budget and meeting with department heads on needs for the new fiscal year. After three months, the committee is still waiting for final figures regarding next year’s ambulance service.

In FY 18, Edgecomb contracted with Wiscasset Ambulance Service for $3,000. But town officials expect municipal ambulance services to cost $20,000 to $30,000 in the next fiscal year. WAS sent town officials a proposed increase to $6,500 and an obligation for unpaid resident ambulance service calls. Last year, WAS officials reported over $14,000 worth of Edgecomb residents' ambulance calls went unpaid.

Edgecomb is also considering contracting with Central Lincoln County Ambulance Service. On April 9, town officials reported CLCAS submitted a $20,000 figure with no requirement for Edgecomb to pick up bad debt.  On the town warrant, selectmen are requesting residents raise and appropriate $20,000 for ambulance services. If the request is approved, selectmen would choose between Wiscasset and CLC ambulance services.

A fire truck and school bus are the two major new expenditures residents will vote on at the May town meeting. The fire department requested selectmen allow a warrant article for a $247,000 Fast Attack vehicle equipped with a Ford F-550 chassis. According to Fire Chief Roy Potter, the 2018 truck would replace a 1981 rescue vehicle and 1984 pumper truck.

The Fast Attack truck also provides greater maneuverability than any other vehicle in the fleet. Potter described the vehicle as performing the same functions as the older rescue vehicle and pumper truck. The new vehicle would also navigate long narrow driveways the older, larger ones can’t. If voters approve, it would be the first new truck residents purchased since 1989. Potter described the entire fleet as “old and purchased used by the auxiliary."

“These trucks are all starting to have issues,” Potter said. “For three years, our truck committee looked at what we needed. The beauty of this truck is it’s small enough to drive down narrow driveways the larger ones can’t.

“It can pump enough to fight a structure fire. And, it’s an automatic so more firefighters can drive it. So it really meets all our needs as a department,” he said.

The public safety budget which includes fire, ambulance and the emergency management agency spending is $141,480. The town would pay for a new truck with a five-year loan. Each year’s payment would be approximately $52,000, according to town officials. A new fire truck wasn’t included in the budget committee’s recommendation. But if residents approve the purchase, it increases the town assessment's increase from 3.11 percent to 4.6 percent, according to Selectman Mike Smith.

The proposed public safety budget has a 21 percent increase from $116,767 to $141,480. The budget committee is estimating a $17,000 increase for municipal ambulance services.

The school committee recommends a $2,869,172 budget which is a 6.7 percent increase. School spending accounts for 68.47 percent of the combined budget. School spending is being offset by increased tuition revenues and a Maine Bond Bank interest rebate. The town is saving nearly $92,000 in interest on the last four years of the school loan repayment.

School officials also propose purchasing a new school bus to replace one leased two years ago and purchased this year. The estimated cost is $18,000 in annual payments for five years. The proposed town assessment for education spending is $2,482,072, a 2.35 increase.

“The school has done a great job in the past two years in bringing in more revenue. The loan rebate saves taxpayers a considerable amount so the school bus purchase is a wash,” Brennan said.

General government spending increases from $140,483 to $154,697 which is a 10.12 percent rise. General government includes town salaries, town expenses, audit, appeals board, planning board, ordinance review committee and cemeteries.

The budget committee recommended raises for selectmen and planning board members. Selectmen's pay would rise $200, to $5,000 for the chairman and $4,000 for other members. Each planning board member’s pay would increase from $100 to $200. The school committee members would receive a $50 raise to $750. The school committee chairman’s pay would increase from $925 to $1,000.

The budget committee adopted Road Commissioner Scott Griffin’s  proposal for a $547,867 highway and bridges budget, which is an 8.13 percent increase. Highways and bridges includes the road commissioner’s salary of $646, paving, snow and ice removal, road project debt service, and local road maintenance.

The committee is recommending a $20,000 increase for building maintenance and repairs, from $1,500 to $21,500. Smith reported the town hall needs roof repairs, a new Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant (ADA) rail, and furnace. The committee recommends funding the repairs with surplus funds.

Other budget recommendations include general assistance, $2,000; libraries, $6,000; Lincoln County Television, $500; social service agencies, $5,285; website, $1,015; Schmid Preserve, $2,220; and animal shelter fees, $1,249.

The committee also recommends $1,000 for a local wayfinding project. The Joint Economic Development Committee is funding a project to better identify significant points along the peninsula. The budget committee also recommends $9,040 for a code enforcement officer. The town’s contribution to Boothbay Region Refuse Disposal District rose 4.74 percent. Edgecomb’s share is $123,524. The district’s budget is set by municipal representatives from Boothbay, Boothbay Harbor, Southport and Edgecomb. The county tax increased 3 percent to $302,257.

Selectmen are expected to finalize the town meeting warrant during their April 9 board meeting in the municipal building.