Franklin County Commissioners weigh Eliminating Health Stipends Amid Budget Dispute
A proposal spearheaded by Commissioner Fen Fowler of Farmington aims to eliminate the stipends retroactively to July 1, with a vote scheduled for December 16. Currently,most commissioners receive a $6,000 annual health insurance stipend,a benefit previously guaranteed by personnel policy and supported by established precedent. The 11-member Budget Advisory Committee’s decision to cut these stipends resulted in an $87,000 reduction to the overall budget.
legal challenges to the committee’s actions were initially raised, prompting two letters from the county attorney in late summer and fall. Commissioners were ultimately informed that the budget cut was legally sound and that reallocating funds from other departments or contingency reserves was not permissible.
Seeking further clarification, the commissioners turned to Maine Attorney General Aaron Frey. In November, the Attorney General’s office indicated it had no jurisdiction in the matter, acknowledging that the county attorney had already provided a complete response to the commissioners’ concerns.
During a meeting of the Farmington Select Board on Tuesday, Saviello highlighted the potential for increased Farmington representation on the Budget Advisory Committee following next year’s caucus. “You have a big say next year in how this budget’s run,” Saviello stated, emphasizing the Select Board’s future influence.
The dispute has ignited a broader debate about the structure of county government. Commissioners have publicly voiced concerns that existing laws are outdated, granting excessive power to the Budget Advisory Committee and limiting their ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances after the budget’s approval.
However, Farmington Select Board member richard Morton, a representative on the Budget Advisory Committee, countered these claims on Tuesday, asserting that the current laws are not “remotely archaic.” He emphasized that the process is “established by the Legislature” and utilized by numerous counties across the state.
Morton attributed the current conflict to the fact that the committee had, for the first time, implemented an actual budget cut. “From my perspective, that means the budget committee worked,” he said. “It did its job. It functioned appropriately. The commissioners just don’t like the end result.” Another board member,Dennis O’Neil,expressed a similar sentiment,stating,”I’m hoping that the commissioners belly up and say: ‘OK,we take it on the chops on this. Figure out how else to do it.'”
Motivated by the Farmington board’s discussion, Fowler proposed a “vote of reconciliation” on Thursday, aiming to formally accept the legal counsel’s interpretation of budget law and eliminate the health care stipends retroactively to July 1. “Hopefully, it can get us to the next point where we really all want to be,” Fowler said, outlining a resolution focused on “establishing a strong and productive working relationship with the Budget Committee.”
Discussions between Saviello and the farmington Select Board on Tuesday centered on potential improvements to the budget committee process, including earlier meetings, increased commissioner participation, and addressing challenges encountered this year, such as salary adjustments.
O’Neil,also a member of the Budget Advisory Committee,expressed confidence that commissioners were not motivated by financial gain. he acknowledged that the dispute arose during a period of meaningful change for county government. “I think they are in a process of learning what the role is – how it’s changed and what they do,” O’Neil said, adding that rising budgets present a “daunting task” for county officials.
this story was originally published by The Maine Monitor, a nonprofit and nonpartisan news organization. To get regular coverage from the Monitor, sign up for a free Monitor newsletter here.
