Woolwich voters will have a $2.83 million budget to consider at their annual town meeting at 6 p.m. April 29 at the grammar school on Nequasset Road. The selectboard’s 2026-27 budget of $2,838,959 is $25,826 higher than last year's. 

“We spent weeks working with the town administrator looking at every line of the budget cutting where we could,” said Selectman Jason Shaw April 1 when the board met at the town office to finalize the warrant. Shaw chaired the board’s regular meeting afterwards in the absence of David King Sr., who left early for a family obligation.

The fire, ambulance and highway departments are close to, or only modestly higher than, last year. Among the largest cuts were $15,000 from the assessing agent’s line, $2,500 from the litigation account and eliminating a $15,000 catastrophic repair account. The town office shaved $2,500 from unemployment compensation and reduced workers compensation by $2,259 after completing a state-sponsored workplace safety program.   

Article 31, asking $266,142 for curbside trash and recycling pick-up, remains among the highest expenditures. Voters are asked to raise $1,099,617 for roads and bridges which includes plowing and winter road maintenance, $197,382 for the fire department and $391,244 for 24/7 ambulance service. The warrant notes the ambulance department has the potential to bring in $140,000 in revenues which will be used to offset the cost of the service.  

Voters will be asked to raise $24,141 – $5,000 less than last year, for contributions to non-profit and community organizations. The selectboard lowered this year’s donation to Bath Area Food Bank from $10,000 to $5,000. At last year’s town meeting, on a motion from the floor, voters raised the food bank’s donation. The article is now worded so that recommended donations can be reduced, but not increased, by voters. In a separate article, Patten Free Library in Bath is asking the town to contribute $80,108 to help support operating costs, an $8,602 increase from last year.

Reached for comment by telephone, King said the increase in municipal spending is modest in comparison to the proposed 2026-27 Sagadahoc County and Regional School Unit 1 budgets. “As it stands now the county budget is up nearly $2 million from last year. And, if the RSU 1 budget is passed as it is currently proposed, the town’s monthly payment will increase from roughly $45,000 to $55,000. When property tax bills arrive later this year people need to understand there’s only so much the selectboard can do to control spending.”

During the regular meeting, Debbie Locke of the special events committee said due to a lack of interest there wouldn’t be a Memorial Day service this year. The community’s churches have traditionally taken turns hosting the event. Over the years, fewer and fewer people have attended the service held in remembrance of military personnel who died while serving in the armed forces. 

In other business, the selectboard renewed a recreational cannabis license for HIGHLY Cannaco on Route One.

The selectboard’s next regular meeting is April 15.