Lincoln County commissioners still have a few missing pieces of the 2026 budget “puzzle” to solve prior to the December deadline. The current draft budget is $17,439,783 which is a 3.65% increase. On Nov. 4, County Administrator Carrie Kipfer reported Nov. 18 is the earliest a budget would be finalized, and commissioners still needed 2026 Risk Pool increases prior to approval.

Commissioners heard from the final department head regarding the budget during the Nov. 4 meeting. District Attorney Natasha Irving answered questions about her $519,777 request which is a 9.13% increase. She described it as a “basic operational budget” and not asking for additional positions. “The request is up about $43,000, $36,000 of which is from rising health insurance costs," she said.

The budget line receiving the most discussion was one not in her budget. Commissioners asked her about funding for a Restorative Justice program.

Prior to the meeting, three residents urged commissioners to restore funding for the program. The district attorney’s office last requested $18,626 for Restorative Justice funding in 2023 which was denied. The office hasn’t requested any funding since.

Annie Blair of Walpole, Nigel Calder of Newcastle and Jennie Begin of Damariscotta believed the program benefited local youth, who ran afoul of the law, and taxpayers, who would avoid paying $40,000 per year in long-term jail costs. “It produces a better result than putting a young person in jail where they only learn to become a professional criminal," Calder said.

Commissioner David Levesque asked Irving what Restorative Justice's future looked like in Lincoln County. “We don’t have community partners or nonprofits able to facilitate Restorative Justice outcomes, and the district attorney's office isn't really the best place for it," Irving said.  "It’s possible we could fund a pilot program in the future.”

She advised a county public defender's office would be better suited for the program.

Levesque also asked about recent resignations in the district attorney's office. One witness victim advocate resigned in July, and another left in September. Both positions remain vacant, but Irving said interviews were set for Nov. 7.

Irving told commissioners both applied for a similar position in Sagadahoc County which pays $4 more per hour. “Witness Victim Advocates across the state aren’t paid enough for their work. And Lincoln County’s pay is among the lowest," she said.

Levesque asked Irving for a study of victim witness advocates' pay around the state so commissioners could consider an increase.

In other action, county officials are making progress in their search for a new public safety building. In 2023, commissioners commissioned a site and structural assessment on the sheriff’s building. “The operations of the sheriff’s office have outgrown their space. There is no efficient, economical way to convert a concrete jail to a usable space for the department’s needs,” according to the report.

This resulted in county officials looking for a new public safety building off-campus on or near Route One. County officials want to move the sheriff’s office, communications department, and emergency management agency to a new location.

After reviewing several properties, Kipfer reported one location near the Nobleboro-Damariscotta line has potential. “We took a field trip with our consultants. Some properties have challenges such as the terrain and site lines and located near a school,” she said. “We did find one that is for sale as a viable site.”

Commissioners approved purchasing a year’s supply of baling wire for Lincoln County Recyling. The county authorized payment to New England Bailing Wire in Brockton, Massachusetts. Kipfer reported the wire per pound cost is $1.43. Commissioners authorized another purchase for Lincoln County Recycling. Commissioners approved a $3,575.04 purchase for tires and rims on a 2019 Packer Freightliner.

The County Registrar of Deeds will attend a property records winter symposium in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Commissioners approved $1,400 in travel expenses for Rebecca Wotton which will have registrars from all over the country including Maine counties Oxford, York, Cumberland and Hancock.

Commissioners meet next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18 in the courthouse.