Orono finance committee advances budget calendar and annual charges

The Orono Town Council Finance and Operations Committee met September 28 to review its annual charge, close out completed assignments, and work through a draft fiscal 2028 budget calendar. The committee agreed to send its charge and activity report to the full council and settled on a revised calendar that adds a May 3 budget hearing and keeps May 10 and May 17 open for workshops. Members also reviewed the audit schedule and first-month financials.

Key points

• The committee reviewed its annual charge and found it still accurate; it will go to the full council along with other committees' charges, likely on the consent calendar at the second council meeting in October.
• Members marked several assignments complete, including paid family medical leave (moved to Acadia Benefits and Guardian), workers compensation, and the budget review; the old fire station item remains ongoing as the town explores a leasing partner.
• The committee settled on a fiscal 2028 budget calendar: a May 3 public hearing and regular meeting, with May 10 and May 17 held open for workshops if needed, and budget adoption later in May.
• The audit start was moved to November 30 at the town's request to avoid the stop-and-start that occurred in fiscal 2024; staff said this also reduces cost.
• Finance Director Andrea Harrison reported the town is one month into the new fiscal year with nothing unusual; insurance appears high because workers comp is front-loaded into two larger quarterly payments, and capital infrastructure and grants need bookkeeping catch-up.
• Committee chair Jacob Baker said he will ask each month for a fund balance or balance sheet report; Harrison said she wants to build a fund balance forecast tool with the auditor.

Next steps

• Baker will complete a form to formally close out the workers compensation item and send it to Clint.
• The budget calendar and committee charge will go to the full council, with the calendar expected on the November 9 agenda.
• The committee plans a separate workshop, outside regular meeting nights, to review last year's budget binder for possible cuts and format changes.
• Harrison will work with the auditor on a routine fund balance forecast or calculator, and will look into who is serving as owner's representative on the police station project.

Read the full transcript