Lincoln County commissioners unanimously approved a $16.8 million Fiscal Year 25 county budget Nov. 19. County spending is offset by $2,017,861 in revenues resulting in taxpayers contributing $14,808,371 or a 7.75% increase. The budget is typically approved each December, but the process finished early and county officials sought approval. "This gives us more time to tell employees how the budget impacts them especially for health care," County Treasurer Michelle Richardson said. 

In other action, commissioners approved elevating Emily Huber to County Emergency Management Agency director. She has served as interim director since July after Maury Prentiss was terminated. Huber previously served as the deputy director under Prentiss who filed a wrongful termination lawsuit Nov. 7 in Wiscasset Superior Court.

Commissioners approved a $230,000 American Rescue Plan Act grant to Damariscotta for their workforce housing project. Community Resilience Planner Laura Graziano is working with towns receiving workforce housing grants. She told commissioners ARPA funds would assist project planners in purchasing land, funding a feasibility study for water and sewer, and seeking project design and permitting. 

Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission received approval to seek a resilience collaborative coordinator program grant. The Governor's Office of Policy, Innovation, and Future is administering $69 million in funding providing $100,000 to qualifying municipalities for five years. 

Graziano, who is the commission's reslience planner, would serve as the regional coordinator for this pilot program which advances municipal resilience projects. 

Sheriff Todd Brackett expressed frustration in the latest financial state of county jails. Under the currrent state budget, county jails receive about $20 million, according to Brackett. "The fact is we really need an additional $20 million," Brackett said. "The state's reception was lukewarm at best. It's an uphill process and hopefully the governor (Janet Mills) will find it in her heart to put some additional funds into the county operational fund. County expenses are going up at the same rate as her own Department of Corrections, and how she wouldn't find something extra for county jails boggles my mind."

Commissioners appointed Evan Goodkowsky as a Two Bridges Regional Jail Authority board member. Goodkowsky was elected a District I county commissioner in November. He succeeds Hamilton Meserve who decided not to seek re-election. 

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 3 in the courthouse.