Meeting this afternoon, 4 p.m., March 4

Wed, 03/04/2026 - 8:58am

Event Date

Wednesday, March 04, 2026 - 04:00 pm

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Lynda Clancy

The Knox County 2026 proposed taxes and fees to be assessed on Knox County municipalities, and then divided up and assessed on individual real estate owners.

Draft Knox County proposed expenditures

The Knox County 2026 proposed taxes and fees to be assessed on Knox County municipalities, and then divided up and assessed on individual real estate owners.

Draft Knox County proposed expenditures

ROCKLAND — When the 2026 budget to fund Knox County government services and infrastructure (airport, courthouse, jail, 911 dispatch and Sheriff's Office) was introduced last fall, it carried a 22 percent increase over the 2025 budget, and the 18 municipalities took note — the budget is funded by property owners throughout Knox County.

But then, the Knox County Budget Committee was immobolized, partially thanks to complicated charter language and partially because there were just too few committee members left to review the budget (for one reason or another, Budget Committee members had peeled away from their seats). That is a necessary step in the budget cycle.

Usually, a county budget, which runs on a January-December fiscal year, has been crafted and approved, or rejected, by the end of the calendar year. That budget is what determines how much money is spent on the courthouse, jail, sheriff's office, emergency dispatch, airport and other public services that all under county purview.But because of contradictory set of rules set forth by the Knox County Charter and state statute that govern quorum necessity and the fact that there were but four Knox County Budget Committee members when there are supposed to be nine (for lack of candidates from around the county), the budget process ground to a halt last October. Since then, the county has been operating under its 2025 budget.Under Maine Title 30 and the Knox County Charter, the Knox County Budget Committee consists of nine members who serve four-year terms. If a vacancy in the membership occurs, the Budget Committee is required to fill the vacancy, subject to confirmation by a majority of the Knox County Commissioners.According to the charter, there must be a quorum of at least five members.But with only four members, the committee's hands were tied and cannot fill vacant seats.LD 2158, "provides temporary authority for the Knox County Commissioners to appoint eligible residents to the Budget Committee whenever, due to a vacancy, a quorum cannot be attained. The bill establishes a process for recognizing recommendations of eligible residents of Knox County put forward by municipalities located in the district for the seat that is vacant. The bill does not affect the requirement of the Budget Committee to fill vacancies once it has a quorum," according to the legislative summary.

Fast forward to mid-winter, when legislators, and the Maine Legislature, stepped in to help the County out of its bind with emergency legislation. With the bill on LD 2158, An Act to Address Vacancies on the Knox County Budget, passed in February, the County was back on track, and today, March 4, there will be 4 p.m. meeting in Rockland to restart the budget process — just as area municipalities on a July-June fiscal year are in the middle of their own budget reviews and debates, all in advance of June town meeting votes.

So, it is a big deal that the Knox County Commissioners will convene this afternoon to get the Budget Commmittee up and running, and finalize the draft 2026 budget. The meeting will take place at the Courthouse,62 Union Street, Rockland.

Watch the meeting live on Knox County’s YouTube channel.

"Thank you for your patience during the Knox County 2026 Budget process," wrote Knox County Administrator Amber Christie, March 3, when she circulated the proposed 2026 budget summary. "We are observing positive momentum regarding the state legislative process and anticipate that formal budget proceedings will commence in late March or early April."

She sent along the current draft tax and communications fees, as well as the state valuations.

"Please note that these figures reflect an 11 percent increase in the overall budget and a 40 percent increase in communications fees; however, this is the initial draft," she wrote.

The March 4 meeting is for the Commissioners to finalize the 2026 draft budget. Then, the budget will be reviewed by the Commissioners and the Budget Committee.

When the Budget Committee convenes, it will appoint nominees to the committee from various parts of the county.

The current and potential budget committee members are:

District 1, Georg Haubs (not yet appointed), Isle A Haut, Matinicus, North Haven, St. George, Friendship, Criehaven

District 2, Jeffrey Northgraves (current member), South Thomaston, Vinalhaven, Owls Head

District 3, Steve Manning and Nicole Kalloch (not yet appointed),Rockland (two seats)

District 4, Peter Linquist (current member), Camden

District 5, Vacant: Rockport/Hope

District 6, John Mountainland (current member), Appleton, Union, Washington

District 7: Roger Peabody (not yet appointed), Warren

District 8, Douglas Erickson (current member), Thomaston, Cushing

The Commissioners will meet again March 17.

March 4 Special Meeting Agenda