Biddeford passes Fiscal Year 2027 municipal budget

The Biddeford City Council approved a $50.8 million fiscal year 2027 municipal budget on Tuesday night.

While the approved budget is nearly $3 million less than the $53.7 million budget proposed by the city manager in March, it’s an increase from the current year’s city budget of $47.7million.

Should the school budget pass on June 9, the projected mil rate for the upcoming fiscal year is $15.84.

The approved municipal budget includes a spending plan for outside services that was suggested by the budget committee, reducing or eliminating funding for social, cultural or educational organizations. The list of the proposed funding and the approved funding of these organizations can be found here.

One of the organizations that had its funding completely cut was La Kermesse, which puts on the annual Franco-American festival.

La Kermesse Treasurer Paul Gagne asked the council to reconsider funding the organization. He said after money was embezzled from La Kermesse in 2010, it took 15 years to get paid back the lost money.

“After 2010, it’s been one year at a time,” he said.

He asked the council to consider giving La Kermesse $7,500, which was half the amount it had asked the council.

Councilor Abigail Woods made a motion to include in the budget $7500 for La Kermesse, but the motion failed.

Councilor Lisa Vadnais said she’d like to be able to fund La Kermesse, but she said she was voting against it because the overall city budget was already too high.

Councilor Roger Beaupre La Kermesse was also asking for a $3,000 waiver in fees for the festival, which, combined with the request for $7500 was double dipping.

“If we are going to support waiving fees to the tune of $3,000, I am not going to support $7500,” he said.

The motion to give La Kermesse funding failed 5 to 2, with Councilors Woods and David Kurtz in support and Councilors Vadnais, Beaupre, Dylan Doughty, Pat Boston, and Jakw Pierson opposed.

Though no changes were made to fund outside services on Tuesday, some last-minute additions were made to restore funds for public safety.

Beaupre, who is also the former police chief, made a motion that passed to restore $60,000 to purchase a police cruiser. He also made a motion that passed to restore $25,000 for self-contained breathing apparatus.

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.