WARD 5 COUNCIL UPDATES

Budget I

Good morning from your Ward 5 City Councilor!

We're in the middle of the budget process. We're averaging 3 meetings a week, of 2-4 hours each. For every hour we're in a meeting, there's usually an hour of homework to match. I am also on five city committees who have their own meetings and their homework. I am trying to respond to constituents in full and in a timely manner. I'm also trying to fit in my own constituent outreach - but please let me apologize if I push some of this off until after budget season. Unless someone has a TIME-TUNER that I can borrow!

Some brief updates:

AUDIT. The City is working just comically hard to complete its 2024 audit, which is significantly behind schedule. Things keep coming up. But a lot of these things fall into the category of us "building foundations" - for future financial organization, for transparency, and for future audits. I will choose to look on that bright side, because otherwise I'm gonna get an ulcer for every dollar a month that I get paid offa this, which is both too many ulcers, and also, not enough ulcers. Please let me say that I am fantastically impressed by our City staff in this matter, including City Manger Truc Dever, Finance Director Gerry Matherne, and the entire finance department. Uncritical support.

CITY BUDGET. We're working on the FY27 budget. You can hear my overarching thoughts from the April 9th budget meeting, at 1:00:42 and then again at 1:20:35. In a nutshell, I do not want to kick the can down the road, ever. I also do not want to adversely affect property values or tenant interest in Biddeford. And I absolutely do not want to adversely affect the downtown district, which would have a ludicrously adverse impact on taxation rates throughout the city. Throughout the process so far, the Council has made many cuts over the FY26 budget. In some cases I think that we have trimmed some fat that needed trimming. In some cases I think we are getting very close to cutting bone. I spoke on this subject on the April 16th meeting, at 48:50.

SOCIAL SERVICES. Historically, Biddeford has contributed generously to local nonprofits and social service providers. The Council has voted to cut the amount being offered them down to 75% of FY26 actuals. This is lower than many nonprofits requested for FY26, let alone for next year. That being said, we are going to discuss the requests in greater detail, line by line. Some muncipal service providers are, I believe, fully deserving of being fully funded. Some are probably in need of more stringent cuts even than 75%. And for some - well, we've been reviewing their financials, and let's just say that I have some QUESTIONS. So we'll see what happens here. I am also worried that we we leave money on the table if we fail to invest in these services. I spoke on this subject on the April 13th meeting, at 46:50 - and then again at 55:40.

MIL RATE. We are currently looking at a mil rate increase of between 0.04 (four cents) and around a quarter of a point. This would have the average Biddeford taxpayer (with a post-homestead-exemption valuation of $380k at an 88% certified ratio) see a tax bill increase of a few dollars per month - very close to flat. This is still an evolving process, but I for one consider this result flabbergasting. Even a little troubling, for reasons of sustainability, as I blabbed about in the clips above.

MIL RATE WITHOUT AN AUDIT. Yep, it's not ideal! But it is what it is. It cannot be anything else. We're trying to keep the ship sailing, and patch the hull, at the same time. We're going to do it. But it sucks. It sucks so much. But it is what it is.

THINGS COUNCILMANIC. Lessee here. The Council decided to exhaust the appeals process regarding the UNE Pier. We're looking at whether Seeds Of Hope is the best use of the City's legally-mandated General Assistance (GA) funds - which City staff, and all local humanitarian providers, agree it to be. Like it would be fiscally irresponsible to a comical degree if we were to volte-face at this time. We've got a few other things on the menu, but mostly we're focused on the budget. This process should conclude by the end of May... hopefully.

CHARTER COMMISSION. Congratulations to the seven folks presumptively elected to represent the city's Wards to the Charter Commission! (Presumptive because I believe they are all of them unopposed.) This includes Ward 5 resident and just extremely good guy Cat Bates. More information about this process will come about after it is formalized by the June 9th elections.

MEETINGS. Over the last two months, I have met with or spoken with a number of constituents, mostly regarding tenant issues. For all tenants, please know that your first step in any issues related to building condition or repair is to reach out to the City Code Enforcement Office. We've also addressed some parking-spot issues and traffic discrepancies, but hopefully we are going to hire a traffic planning engineer that will address these issues just a whole lot more. Finally, I have spent time with both police dispatch (thank you, Garth!) and also the fire department (my love to all of "D" Shift!), as well as several area churches, municipal nonprofits, and the university. I look forward to devoting more time to this outreach... after the budget is done.