The  Rockport Budget Committee has been actively working with the Rockport Select Board to review and plan the financial plans for the upcoming fiscal year [FY 2026-2027]. A primary concern of the committee is the hardship placed on many residents with Rockport’s municipal expense budget increases of 9.75% in 2022, 16.5% in 2023, 13.23% in 2024, and 26.65% in 2025.

The committee’s primary focus has been on ensuring that proposed budgets align with organizational goals, maintaining fiscal responsibility, and identifying areas for cost reduction.

Recent Activities

At the October 7 Budget Committee meeting, the following topics were discussed:

• An Employee Benefits Review task force is being formed and chaired by Budget Committee member Walker Angell
• Discussion of how the Budget Committee’s recommendations can be displayed on the June ballot
• Comparison of Rockport’s municipal budget with those of Wiscasset and Boothbay Harbor 
• The Committee anticipates close cooperation between the Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee and the Capital Improvement Plan to assure that budgetary spending goals are in alignment with these plans
• While the Budget Committee’s goal is limiting expense growth to 1% of last year’s budget, alternative measurements were discussed
• Financial data on Rockport’s new EMS has been delayed pending review with the Select Board
• Encourage transparency with Rockport residents by continuing to provide Budget Committee meeting updates and welcoming comments from Rockport residents
• Regionalization of some public services needs to be discussed as a long term goal in the hope that this will allow increased efficiencies and reduced cost through economy of scale

The Budget Committee's next meeting will be November 5, 6 p.m.,  at the Geoffrey C. Parker Room, downstairs in the Rockport Opera House.

The meetings are streamed live and the public is encouraged to attend these meetings and share their views. Comments can be sent to budgetcommittee@rockportmaine.gov

The Rockport Budget Committee consists of:

Clay Tolman, Chair

Walker Angell

Douglas Cole

Geoff Parker

Steve Bowen

Helen Shaw

Craig Mitchell

William Freeman