Will Wiscasset voters decide the next budget at a town meeting, instead of at the polls? Selectmen are mulling a possible review of their options for a budget vote.

Board members on February 4 briefly discussed a possible switch to an open town meeting. They cited last year's protracted approval process that spanned from June into fall.

In multiple votes at the polls, residents continued to reject parts of the proposed budget. An October 2013 town meeting decided the rest of it, including giving laid-off assessors' agent Sue Varney her job back.

Reviewing the budget approval method is among a series of goals the board is considering for the next year. The panel plans to vote on the goals February 18.

Speaking of the budget

A school police officer and replacement of the Wiscasset Community Center's leaky roof are among possible new costs selectmen may have to weigh for the next year's budget, departing town manager Laurie Smith said.

Smith gave selectmen and the public a peek at early figures and potential projects, to help the board when it receives a budget draft around the beginning of March. Smith's last day on the job is Friday, Feb. 7.

Interim town manager Don Gerrish will work with department heads to prepare the proposal for selectmen, Smith said.

“By no means is this the budget that selectmen will get at the end of this month,” Smith said.

Possible spending from capital reserve funds still faces paring down to as low as $375,000, plus another possible $150,000 in road and sidewalk repairs, she said.

“This is normal,” Smith said of a spread between what departments first submit and the proposal that goes to selectmen.

One big unknown is how much, if any, state revenue sharing the town has coming. The legislature has yet to decide; if the aid stays in tact, the town would get about $190,000, Smith said.

Wiscasset Police Chief Troy Cline recently told Wiscasset High School parents he would be seeking a school resource officer. He was speaking at a meeting that stemmed from a rise the school has been seeing in substance abuse issues.