UPDATE: Penobscot County Commissioners have just approved a critical $35.3 million budget for 2026 during their final meeting of the year on December 13, 2023. This unanimous decision comes amidst a serious budget crisis stemming from a $3.5 million shortfall in the county jail budget, making this development urgent for local residents and officials alike.
The budget marks a significant increase from the $34.5 million allocated for 2025. Notably, the budget process has been more contentious than in previous years, primarily due to funding issues related to the county jail that emerged earlier this year.
During the meeting, Commissioners Andre Cushing, Dave Marshall, and Dan Tremble faced the challenge of addressing a looming $7 million crisis created by prior funding methods, which relied on undesignated funds rather than allocated budgeted funds. The initial proposal for the new budget was $36.1 million, but after negotiations and revisions, the final figure was adjusted to $35.3 million.
To achieve this reduction, commissioners implemented cuts of approximately $850,000 in expenditures and identified an additional $150,000 in revenue. These adjustments resulted in a nearly $1 million decrease in the tax burden on residents. However, the last-minute changes included adding $50,000 for building improvements and $20,000 for transitional administrative costs, further complicating the budgetary landscape.
The budget increase of nearly $4 million, or 15.6% from last year, will also raise property tax rates by the same percentage. County Treasurer Glenn Mower indicated that this hike translates to an additional 21 cents per $1,000 of property value, bringing the Bangor tax rate to $17.91 per $1,000. For a property valued at $200,000, this equates to a tax bill of $3,582.
Commissioner Dan Tremble emphasized that the increasing budget is not due to inflated departmental requests but is a direct response to the escalating jail deficit. “It’s a big increase,” Tremble stated, “but if you look at the county department by department, there aren’t any huge increases in the budget this year.”
Looking ahead, Commissioner Dave Marshall hinted at potential solutions, including plans for a new jail facility, which could alleviate some of the financial strain. A public vote on a bond for this new jail is anticipated in June 2024. However, both Tremble and Marshall reiterated that merely constructing a new facility will not resolve the underlying issues without adequate state funding.
“The jail desperately needs a new facility, but that’s not going to cure our problem,” Tremble cautioned, stressing the need for comprehensive state support to properly fund the jail system.
As these developments unfold, residents of Penobscot County are urged to stay informed on budgetary impacts and upcoming votes that could shape the future of county funding and jail operations.
