Bridgton manager outlines roughly $27 million budget as voters approve multiple appropriation articles

Town Manager Don Casperac told the annual town meeting that the proposed municipal budget is about $27 million, with the school share roughly $13 million, the county share about $1.3 million and the town portion close to $7.3 million; he said annual debt service runs at about $994,000. "If this was your own money, would you be spending it this way?" Casperac said, urging pragmatic decision‑making in the budget process.

Voters moved through warrant articles for operating and capital needs. Finance staff explained increases in anticipated revenues tied to a TIF and described the balances of local trusts: Moose Pond Trust was reported around $2.3 million and the Bridgton Trust Fund about $1.8 million. Select Board members, town staff and residents questioned specific line items (for example, a rise in town hall cleaning/contractual costs) and received staff explanations that contractual services and personnel costs were the primary drivers.

Votes at a glance (as read at the meeting):
• Article 6 — Appropriate $5,381,376 from anticipated revenues and trust funds to reduce property taxes: passed by voice vote.
• Article 7 — Raise and appropriate $5,732,251 for general government (contingency, debt, reserves): passed by voice vote.
• Article 8 — Raise and appropriate the warrant amount for public safety: passed by voice vote (discussion included ADA/sidewalk curb ramp constraints explained by staff).
• Article 9 — Raise and appropriate $3,087,827 for public works, capital expenditures and other services: passed by voice vote (discussion included town responsibility for 26 cemeteries; the town maintains 14 of them).
• Article 10 — $17,675 for select board and planning board stipends: passed by voice vote.
• Articles 12–15 — Various outside services, county fees, CDBG appropriation and tax schedule items: passed by voice votes (see official warrant for full amounts).
• Articles 16–28 — Taken as a single block and passed by voice vote.

Casperac and department heads emphasized rising costs across many items — fuel, asphalt, sand, insurance and contractual services — and thanked staff for producing the budget amid turnover in department leadership. Several residents pressed for more detail on specific line items during the discussion; staff provided clarifications where available.

The meeting closed after additional presentations, the swearing‑in of newly elected officials and a motion to adjourn.