Waldo County Sheriff’s Office being considered for federal funding
Waldo County Sheriff’s Office is one of 13 law enforcement agencies being considered for a portion of $14,566,000 in Congressionally Directed Spending set aside for Maine law enforcement and public safety upgrades. These projects were included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Commerce, Justice, and Science (CJS) Appropriations bill. The legislation, which was officially approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee on July 18, 2025, now awaits consideration by the full Senate and House.
“It is critical that the men and women who make up Maine’s finest and bravest have access to the most effective equipment to better protect themselves and our communities,” said U.S. Senator Susan Collins, Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This funding would improve public safety efforts and emergency response capacity throughout Maine. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, I will continue to advocate for this funding as the appropriations process moves forward.”
This funding advanced through the Committee’s markup of the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations bill—an important step that now allows the bills to be considered by the full Senate.
Funding advanced by Senator Collins for Maine law enforcement and public safety upgrades in the FY 2026 CJS Appropriations bill is as follows:
Cornish Public Safety Communications Equipment
Recipient: Town of Cornish
Project Location: Cornish, ME
Amount Requested: $218,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
Farmington Police Department Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Farmington Police Department
Project Location: Farmington, ME
Amount Requested: $240,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Hancock County Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Hancock County
Project Location: Hancock County, ME
Amount Requested: $2,300,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Hancock County.
Kennebunk Public Safety Communications Equipment
Recipient: Town of Kennebunk
Project Location: Kennebunk, ME
Amount Requested: $5,018,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
Lewiston Police Department Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Lewiston Police Department
Project Location: Lewiston, ME
Amount Requested: $2,170,000
Project Purpose: To purchase protective gear and other public safety equipment.
Lincoln Police Department Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Lincoln Police Department
Project Location: Lincoln, ME
Amount Requested: $565,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Rumford Police Department Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Rumford Police Department
Project Location: Rumford, ME
Amount Requested: $1,000,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Somerset County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Somerset County Sheriff’s Office
Project Location: Somerset County, ME
Amount Requested: $294,000
Project Purpose: To increase evidence storage capacity and purchase public safety equipment.
Veazie Police Department Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Town of Veazie Police Department
Project Location: Veazie, ME
Amount Requested: $125,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment.
Waldo County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Waldo County Sheriff’s Office
Project Location: Waldo County, ME
Amount Requested: $688,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Waldo County.
Washington County Sheriff’s Office Public Safety Equipment
Recipient: Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Project Location: Washington County, ME
Amount Requested: $187,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety equipment for law enforcement agencies in Washington County.
Wells Police Department Emergency Response Vessel
Recipient: Wells Police Department
Project Location: Wells, ME
Amount Requested: $599,000
Project Purpose: To purchase an emergency response vessel and related equipment.
Winthrop Public Safety Communications Equipment
Recipient: Town of Winthrop
Project Location: Winthrop, ME
Amount Requested: $1,162,000
Project Purpose: To purchase public safety communications equipment.
This funding builds on the more than $12 million Senator Collins secured for fire stations and emergency services throughout Maine in the FY 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Appropriations bill.
In 2021, Congress reinstituted Congressionally Directed Spending. Following this decision, Senator Collins has secured more than $1 billion for hundreds of Maine projects for FY 2022, FY 2023, and FY 2024. As the Chair of the Appropriations Committee, Senator Collins is committed to championing targeted investments that will benefit Maine communities.
