BERWICK MAINE — The Berwick Board of Selectmen will be taking the lead on the town budget after the Budget Committee lost three of its five members.
Town Manager Steve Eldridge said one individual moved away, and others could not meet the time commitment. He said he appreciates why it is difficult for volunteers to serve on the Budget Committee.
“It is a complicated process and a big time commitment,” Eldridge said.
He said the two remaining members will attend the meetings during which the budgets will be reviewed and offer input to the board as needed.
The town does not have a charter, so there is no special permission needed to change the budget process and forgo the public committee.
Eldridge said they will still be doing everything the same way with department heads presenting their budgets.
He presented the full schedule for the fiscal year 2019 budget process at the Dec. 14 Board of Selectmen meeting.
According to Eldridge, on Jan. 24 and 25, he will review budgets with department heads and the town’s finance director.
The Board of Selectmen will review the department budgets as follows: Jan. 30 — General Expense, Town Administration, Town Clerk/General Assistance, Town Hall, and Recreation; Feb. 6 — Planning, Assessing, Fire, Miscellaneous and Transfers; Feb. 13 — Police, BCTV, Public Works, Transfer Station, and Water.
On Feb. 20, there will be a final review and a public hearing.
Eldridge said he hopes to have the budget approved by the board, with any amendments on March 6 and have the warrant finalized and signed by March 20.
“We are looking at trying to keep the budget flat, as much as we can,” Eldridge said. “We try to be as conservative as possible while still moving the town forward.”
The MSAD #60 Budget Referendum is set for May 8, the Town Referendum and State Primary is June 12, and the General Election is Nov. 6.