Wiscasset residents will vote June 10 on the proposed $15.6 million budget, up $672,689, or 4.5%, from last year’s. Selectmen April 1 nodded the warrant voters will face at the polls. 

The budget summary at wiscasset.gov shows administration up 7.38% to $207,397; airport, down 1.36% to $113,014; animal control, up 1.42% to $17,901; assessing, down 3.55% to $8,160; boards and committees, down 38.52% to $2,800; celebrations, up 9.3% to $23,500; clerk, up 5.82% to $123,150; code enforcement, up 76.87% to $80,164; Wiscasset Public Library, flat with 2024-25 at $69,000; other community organizations, also flat with last year, at $15,224; contingency, flat, at $50,000; contractual services, down 33.56% to $ 222,790; county tax, up 16.26% to $922,873; debt service, down 24.95% to $166,500; elections, up 8.98% to $24,143; emergency medical services, up 16.74% to $1,096,395; fire department, up 4.89% to $190,602; finances, up 6.94% to $320,938; general assistance, up 2.04% to $36,280; municipal building, up .71% to $92,933; municipal insurance, down 2.51% to $142,000; parks and recreation, down 3.12% to $1,226,189; planning and development, down 18.6% to $111,102; police, up 12.09% to $937,762; school resource officer (SRO), up 4.36% to $66,325; public utilities, up 3.16% to $337,365;  public works, up 8.39% to $833,943; selectmen, down 2.26% to $26,237; school appropriation, up 4.54% to $7,111,823; Senior Center, down 8.5% to $19,419; shellfish, down 17.71% to $4,437; transfer station, up 5.79% to $927,570; waterfront, down .12% to $73,108; retiree health, up 12.52% to $63,753; wastewater, up .01% to $981,613; and cemeteries, flat at $178,428.

The budget summary also notes cemeteries, wastewater and retiree health do not affect taxation. And the warrant notes the SRO's cost would be partly offset by $30,000 from the school department.

Proposed capital reserve taps include up to $907,055 for paving, $20,000 for community center pool repairs and maintenance, $25,000 for Senior Center improvements, $45,000 for basketball and pickleball court repairs; $15,000 for repairs to the cupola of the former Wiscasset Academy or "Red Brick Schoolhouse" Maine Art Gallery leases; and a $155,702 infrastructure bond payment.

Proposed to come from the undesignated fund balance, or surplus, are up to $125,000 for a public works plow truck and sander; $125,000 to replace the fire department's brush truck; and $100,000 in waterfront work including electrical upgrades and float replacement.

Also April 1, the board, 4-1 with James Andretta opposed, separately nodded the warrant for the school department’s April 29 budget meeting. The 6 p.m. meeting at Wiscasset Middle High School has voting on cost centers and other proposals before voters make the final call June 10.

The selectboard’s meeting, carried live over Zoom and YouTube, got interrupted by a Zoom-bomber’s loud speaking and explicit image. Town Manager Dennis Simmons and Chair Sarah Whitfield worked to immediately shut off the person and business resumed.