MIDCOAST - County government expenses, including the sheriff's department, corrections facilities, emergency management and 911 dispatch centers, account for around 10 percent of property tax bills in the Midcoast. This month officials in Knox and Waldo counties signed off their respective budgets for the upcoming year.

Knox County commissioners and budget committee approved a $6.6 million bottom line for 2013, up 4.3 percent, or roughly $281,000, from the current year.

Most of the increase, $232,000, comes in the form of debt service on a voter approved $2.5 million, 15-year bond for the new public safety building at 301 Park Street, which will combine the county's Emergency Management Agency, Sheriff's Department and 911 dispatch center. Other significant new expenditures included a contribution of just over $14,000 to the MidCoast Economic Development District. 

County officials also rolled over $175,000 from surplus in order to bring the surplus below the statutory 20-percent limit. The money was used to offset the budget in the coming year.

Close to half of the county's budget comes as a fixed amount paid into the statewide corrections system. The net budget, excluding debt service on the new public safety building, is up $15,000, or 0.24%.

"It's not a big enough number to really highlight much," said County Commissioner Roger Moody, speaking on Dec. 26.

The county has traditionally added a two-percent discretionary overlay to the budget, but Moody said there was some discussion during the budget process about the purpose of that money. He said the commissioners will most likely take up the issue again in February.

View the approved Knox County 2013 budget here.

Waldo County officials approved an $8.2 million budget for 2013. The total, including the fixed rate of 2.8 million that the county contributes to the statewide corrections system, is up 3.03 percent, or $240,474 over the current year. Discounting corrections, the net amount controlled by the county is up 4.71 percent from 2012.

"The major thing was the tech upgrades that we had to do," said Commissioner William Shorey, referring to a decision by officials to spend more now in order to save money later.

In past years the county has leased computers, radios and other technology on a five year cycle. Starting last year, Shorey said, the commissioners recommended paying off the existing debt in three years and starting to sock away money in subsequent years to buy the equipment rather than lease it.

To this end, roughly $100,000 was added to the fund this year in addition to the amount normally set aside.

Shorey guessed that the equipment wouldn't be worth much on the resale market after five years, but said basic components could be kept as back-ups. More importantly, he said, the county would save around $50,000 in interest fees during that time.

The rest of the increase in the 2013 came almost entirely from scheduled raises for county employees and increases in the cost of employee benefits.

Shorey said the bottom line figure is $59,245 under the state's LD 1 cap — a benchmark set annually to limit growth in governmental spending.

“Waldo County is opeating about as bare bones and efficient as it can operate,” he said.

An electronic version of the approved Waldo County budget was not available at the time of publication. The latest draft including approved amounts by the budget committee and comparisons with previous years can be viewed here. 

To contact Ethan Andrews, e-mail: news@penbaypilot.com