Brunswick Town Council Meeting and Budget Workshop - April 9, 2026

The Town Council held an official meeting to set a public hearing on the proposed 2026-27 municipal budget and capital improvement program, followed by a workshop with presentations from the Brunswick Downtown Association and the Parks and Recreation Department. The council discussed the budget, tax impact, and future workshops.

Official Meeting: Setting the Public Hearing

• The council voted unanimously (7-0, with two councilors absent) to set a public hearing for Monday, April 27, 2026, on the 2026-27 municipal budget and the 2027-2031 Capital Improvement Program (CIP).
• Town Manager Hensey presented the proposed budget, which assumes a 1% valuation increase and results in an estimated 5.52% impact on the tax rate. The property tax increase is 6.58%, but the tax rate increase is 5.52% due to rounding and the valuation growth.
• The manager noted that the budget combines county, municipal, and school components, and the school board passed its budget the previous night. The county assessment is $2,407,770 plus a sixth-month adjustment of $156,447 for the transition from calendar to fiscal year.
• The first year of the CIP includes projects funded from general fund balance ($1.2 million proposed, down from $2.5 million last year) and TIF revenues. Notable projects: Richards Culvert replacement ($450,000), Noble Street design ($100,000), Brunswick High School window replacement ($465,000), water source heat pump replacements ($205,000), and various TIF-funded projects including Federal/Mason/Water intersection ($25,000 additional match), Riverwalk design ($35,000), Brunswick Landing Perimeter Trail ($154,000), Cook's Corner revitalization ($200,000), and fire engine replacement (to be bonded).
• Councilor Ecker challenged the council to find $960,000 in savings to reduce the tax rate increase to 4%, noting that a majority of council had previously expressed interest in that target.

Workshop: Brunswick Downtown Association Presentation

• Executive Director Riley presented the BDA's annual update, highlighting their role as a nationally accredited Main Street program managing the visitor center (50,000 annual visitors), membership (nearly 300 members), events (Second Friday, Music on the Mall, Outdoor Arts Festival, Community Barbecue, Magic on Main auction, holiday lighting, etc.), and marketing efforts (new website, 1 million social media views, 55% newsletter open rate).
• The BDA requested $110,000 for the upcoming fiscal year, a $5,000 increase from the prior year, to offset rising operational costs. The town funding represents about one-third of the BDA's total revenue, with sponsorship being the largest source. The increase is described as a sustainability request, not expansion.
• Councilors expressed appreciation for the BDA's work and noted the importance of the downtown association for placemaking. Councilor Williams encouraged individual memberships and suggested a potential collaboration with the Pejepscot Portage Mapping Project.

Workshop: Parks and Recreation Department Presentation

• Director Tom Farrell presented the department's budget and activities. The department has 17 full-time employees, 3 regular part-time, 149 seasonal employees, and 70 independent contractors. In the past year, they delivered 120 programs with 76,321 participants, the largest number ever.
• The recreation special revenue fund took in $863,000 in revenues and spent $814,000, leaving a net of $48,793. The fund is used for one-time capital investments.
• The department maintains over 2,550 acres of land and 60+ facilities. Recent projects include the field house roof replacement ($388,800 from facility reserve), parking lot resurfacing at the recreation center ($200,000 estimated), and the upcoming relocation to 2 Columbus (8.5 acres, to be used for maintenance operations).
• The Mark's development continues with phase one projects: pickleball courts, skate park, playground, and this summer two basketball courts with lighting. The Mary Meeting Park project is adding interpretive signage (five panels installed in two weeks, five more planned). The perimeter trail at Brunswick Landing received a $250,000 Maine Trails Bond grant, with bidding expected in 30-45 days and construction in fall 2026/spring 2027.
• Other projects include the Riverwalk (design phase), Anniversary Park improvements (three new pedestrian entrances, amphitheater), and the Androscoggin Kennebec (A-K) Trail feasibility study (kickoff May 2, 2026). The Lower Road Rail Corridor trail project is on hold due to an undisclosed rail operator agreement.
• The Settle-Meyer property acquisition (providing 2,000-3,000 feet of riverfront access) is $70,000 short of funding; the department is seeking sources and may consider recreation impact fees if no alternative is found.
• The Parks & Rec budget request is a 7.8% increase over last year, with no additional full-time employees requested. The increase is driven by contractual obligations and the addition of 2 Columbus.

Key Outcomes

• The council unanimously voted to set a public hearing for April 27, 2026, on the municipal budget and CIP.
• The council will continue budget workshops: next Monday (April 14) with the school department and Brunswick Link, then Thursday, April 23, and additional meetings as needed. The public hearing is April 27, and adoption is targeted for May 11, 2026.
• Councilor Ecker urged the council to find $960,000 in savings to achieve a 4% tax rate increase.
• The BDA and Parks & Rec presentations were received for informational purposes; no votes were taken on their budgets.
• Councilors may submit questions for the school department to the chair by Friday, April 10, to allow preparation for the Monday workshop.