The Wiscasset budget workshop process was set to wind up on Wednesday, March 27, with all major departments already examined.

Last week, the budget committee and selectmen examined the police, public works and EMS/ambulance service budgets. The police department's increased from $423,868 to $464,347, or 9.55 percent, not counting workers comp. With that added, the cost rose to $473,412, or an increase of 11.69 percent. That cost did not include the school resource officer, which is on a separate warrant article. The SRO cost increased from $40,341 to $50,166, an increase of 24.35 percent. And with workers comp, the percentage increased to 26.76 percent.

The main driver of cost increase was training, a one-time cost because all the officers except the chief are new to law enforcement, and overtime, due to a lack of a full complement of officers for most of the year.

Public Works had a decrease of 1.37 percent, not including worker’s comp. The total budget amount fell from $665,546 to $656,405.

The EMS/Ambulance Service posted a 2.28 percent decrease, mostly due to decreases in salaries and payroll taxes. The cost dropped from $553,227 to $540,598.

On Monday, March 25, the committees considered the Fire Department, Transfer Station, Airport, and Parks and Recreation, and several smaller line items.

The Fire Department budget increased by 1.82 percent, from $148,242 to $150,938. Some of the increase was for salaries, and some was for equipment repair. Fire Chief TJ Merry asked about the floor replacement plan to remove the asbestos in the fire station. Town Manager John O’Connell said he is still looking into options for the work.

The transfer station budget is still in play due to changes in recycling costs. Because so much of the town’s recycling is no longer being bought by China, the disposal cost has increased. The town still has a contract for two more months with the current single-stream recycler, but after that, can consider other options. Depending on the options chosen, which might include more aggressive recycling separation at the transfer station and hauling the remainder to a new sorting/incineration facility, the cost may rise 20 percent to 172 percent.

The Airport budget rose by 8.20 percent, mostly due to the cost of fuel. Some of that will be recouped when it is sold to pilots.

Parks and Recreation’s budget increased by 1.37 percent. Because the town's demographics are changing, according to Director Lisa Thompson, not so many hours are needed for childcare or summer camp, but more are needed for senior programming. She is working with Mary Ellen Barnes to get a grant for a bus for senior citizen trips.

Except for contractual services, there were few questions about line items. In contractual services, the amount set aside for legal services in special programs, such as Mason Station and Maine Yankee, have increased substantially. O’Connell said the Maine Yankee contract is coming up for consideration in 2022, and in the leadup, the law office suggested setting aside $35,000, an increase of 1,650 percent. Overall, the amount set aside for contractual services increased by 23.21 percent.

Other line items were scheduled for March 27.