A local state representative has proposed changing Lincoln County’s budget process. This week, Rep. Stephanie Hawke, R-Boothbay Harbor, submitted a bill to allow for more voices to decide the annual county budget. Currently, Lincoln is one of a minority of Maine counties which leave the final annual budget say with the county commissioners. Hawke’s bill would create a budget committee with one representative from Lincoln County’s 20 municipalities to join the three commissioners in approving the final budget.

The current format calls for the county commissioners to make the final call after consulting with a 10-person budget advisory committee made up of three municipal officials from the three county commissioner districts and one state legislator. The county commissioners appoint the nine municipal officials to the advisory board.

Last year, Hawke served as the budget advisory committee’s legislative representative. She characterized the current format as giving all the say to the commissioners. She submitted the bill based on a constituent’s request.

“The advisory committee didn’t have any say. This change would provide more voices on the final county budget,” she said.

The second-term legislator has submitted two other bills. One regulates direct shipping of wines into the state. The other deals with who is responsible for proving whether or not an automotive muffler is too loud. Hawke also submitted these bills based on constituents’ recommendations. The wine bill would prohibit the direct shipping of bottles of less than 750 milliliters and shipping more than 12 cases.

Her muffler bill removes responsibility from the motorist in proving their exhaust system complies with the law. Currently, it’s law enforcement’s discretion in determining whether or not a muffler is too noisy. Hawke’s bill would require the law enforcement officer, not the motorist, to prove if the muffler is too loud.

All three bills have been sent to the Legislature’s revisor’s office for review. Hawke said the office will use the concepts she submitted and turn them into legislative language.