Penobscot County Commissioners approved a budget of $35.3 million for 2026 during their final meeting of the year, held on December 20, 2023. This unanimous decision, made by Commissioners Andre Cushing, Dave Marshall, and Dan Tremble, marks an increase from the $34.5 million budget for 2025. The process leading to this approval was notably prolonged and contentious, primarily due to a $3.5 million shortfall in the county jail budget.
The county has historically funded the jail through undesignated funds rather than budgeted funds, which has resulted in a significant financial crisis amounting to $7 million. Initially, the commissioners proposed a $36.1 million budget in November 2023, but the 15-member budget advisory committee suggested a reduced budget of $35.1 million without specifying departmental allocations. This necessitated cuts from the commissioners to align with the committee’s recommendations.
To meet the committee’s target, the commissioners identified approximately $850,000 in cuts and secured an additional $150,000 in revenue, resulting in a reduction of nearly $1 million in the amount to be raised through taxes. Although these adjustments did not fully meet the specific motions from the advisory committee, Commissioner Cushing stated that the final budget was “in line with most of the goals” presented by the committee.
Budget Adjustments and Tax Implications
Prior to the vote, several last-minute changes were made to the budget. These included adding $50,000 for building and improvements, $20,000 to the commissioners’ fund for the transitional period between interim County Administrator Gary Lamb and the new administrator to be appointed in 2026, and an additional $5,000 to the finance department. Furthermore, the commissioners increased revenue from taxes collected in previous years by $127,800.
As a result of these modifications, the budget increased by nearly $4 million, or 15.6%, from the previous year. This escalation raises the property taxes for county residents by the same percentage. According to County Treasurer Glenn Mower, the increase will add 21 cents per $1,000 of property value to the tax rate in Bangor. If no other changes are made, the Bangor tax rate would be $17.91 per $1,000 in property value, translating to $3,582 in taxes for a property valued at $200,000.
The commissioners emphasized that the rising budget was not primarily due to increases in county departments. “It’s a big increase,” Tremble stated. “But the facts are, if you look at the county department by department, there aren’t any huge increases in the budget this year.” He attributed the increase to a growing deficit in the jail budget that needed immediate attention.
Future Plans for Jail Funding
The need for a new jail, along with increased state funding, has been highlighted as essential to address the budgetary issues. Commissioner Marshall noted that if plans proceed as discussed, a public vote on a bond for a new jail could occur in June 2024. A new facility could potentially reduce costs by decreasing the number of inmates needing to be boarded out, yet Tremble cautioned that a new jail alone would not resolve the budget challenges.
“The problem is not going to be solved until the state steps up and funds the jails the way that it’s supposed to be funding,” Tremble reiterated. He emphasized the critical need for a new facility but clarified that addressing the underlying financial issues requires broader state support.
The approved budget reflects the ongoing challenges faced by Penobscot County, particularly in managing funding for essential services like the jail while balancing the needs of other county departments.
