“I’ve literally taken a razor blade to every line in this budget …,” Wiscasset Town Manager Dennis Simmons told selectmen Feb. 25 in a workshop on the 2025-26 town budget. “If I could shave a hundred bucks off a budget, I shaved a hundred bucks off a budget.”

Some union contracts are still in negotiations but Simmons expects wages will hike by about $300,000 as he said they have in recent years, to compete with other towns and the private sector.

The $15.2 million budget draft would hike spending 2%. Simmons said he and department heads tried to keep the budget “as lean as possible” without cutting services. He added, county and school tabs are not yet known. 

The draft includes the town's final payments on debt from the pullout from Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit more than a decade ago. Simmons said $218,000 is left to pay. Payments will be made in April, September and December “and (then) it’s over.”

Simmons is proposing making the codes enforcement officer full-time, at 32 hours, to better serve permit seekers and possibly have the CEO aid the planning board and ordinance review committee. Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission has been doing that under a planning contract Simmons said the county does not plan to renew.

On another front, Simmons said he and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Kim Andersson have begun talking about the school department's possibly doing the town's payroll. This could save time and money at the town office, depending on how much the school department would be paid, Simmons said. Reached Feb. 27, Andersson comfirmed there had been discussions, and said she would support something that saves taxpayers money.

Simmons’ written introduction to the draft town budget reads in part, “Our fiscally conservative approach has yielded positive results in recent years. Departments have consistently operated under budget, while revenues have exceeded expectations, strengthening our fund balance and financial position. Current trends are encouraging — revenues remain above estimates, budgets are within limits, and state revenue sharing remains stable at 5%, despite broader state budget concerns. Additionally, strong motor vehicle excise taxes and building permit activity indicate continued post-pandemic economic growth …

“However, we recognize the challenges ahead. Inflation continues to drive up costs for housing, food, energy, and other essentials, placing financial strain on households and businesses. State and federal budget constraints pose a risk to municipal revenue. Yet, we remain optimistic about Wiscasset's economic outlook. While some small retail businesses have closed, new enterprises have quickly filled those spaces, drawn by Wiscasset's unique charm and economic potential. Our economic development efforts continue to focus on strengthening existing businesses, attracting new investment, and broadening our tax base to ease the burden on homeowners while fostering a thriving local economy. As we begin the (FY) 2026 budget process, I encourage all residents to engage, provide input, and take part in shaping Wiscasset's future. Together, we will navigate challenges and ensure our town remains resilient, efficient, and vibrant for generations to come.”

No public comment was taken Feb. 25. That will come in sessions that take a “deep dive” into budget items, Chair Sarah Whitfield explained.

Talks resume at the town office and over Zoom March 5. The 6 p.m. meeting also includes the public hearing on a request the town got to support naming the Route One railroad crossing in memory of James Weldon Johnson; the diplomat-poet-civil rights advocate, who wrote the words to “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing,” died in a 1938 car-train crash at the crossing.