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2026 is an election year, which will include voting for state governor and two City Council member <br />positions. Communications is increasing $22,750 or 15.26%. The department was created within the <br />General Fund in 2024. This allowed for better tracking of expenditures related to newsletters, social <br />media, and other communication related costs. For 2025 budget, a Communications Specialist was <br />hired. For 2026 budget, increases are based on true costs seen in YTD 2025 numbers. Finance is <br />increasing $86,300 (24.92%) with the biggest increase due to transition back audit service from the <br />Central Services department in the General Fund. Central Services is decreasing by $227,400 (-43.71%). <br />Facilities related expenditures moved to the Facilities Services Fund and is distributed back into each <br />respective department as a facilities services charge based on square footage of each maintained area <br />and number of employees within each department. Audit service was moved back to the Finance <br />department. <br />For Public Safety related expenditure, total increase is $35,600. Police budget is increasing by $536,200. <br />This includes addition for an additional 0.5 cadet. Police software licensing is budgeted to accurately <br />reflect police specific subscriptions and software. Fire overall is decreasing by $650,600 as a new joint <br />power agreement fire department is currently being negotiated between the City of Orono and the City <br />of Long Lake. Community Development budget is increasing by $150,000 (16.51%) to include <br />preparation for the City's comprehensive plan with future years 2027-2029 to cover the drafting, <br />creation, and finalization of the plan. <br />Public Works — Streets budget is increasing by $272,500 based on review of the City's tree management <br />plan. There is a need for significant increase for tree removal, maintenance and replacement. <br />Contracted street maintenance also increased based on an average of the past three-year actuals. <br />Public Works — Spring Park budget is increasing by $73,450 to include a total of 1.5 full-time employee <br />equivalent wage which includes parks maintenance service. Parks budget is increasing $53,250 or <br />15.52%. Increase includes tree maintenance, removal and replacement needed at parks. Additionally, <br />seasonal parks wages are increasing by approximately 760 hours. Special Projects — Contingencies is <br />made of transfers to the Equipment Improvement Outlay fund, Facilities Fund and IT Service Fund. <br />These are budgeted based on the Capital Improvement Plan on items that are General Fund related. <br />Additional information on general fund departments can be found in the information included with this <br />document. <br />Page 3 of 96 158 <br />