Mar 13, 2026
BAR HARBOR—The public hearing for the Bar Harbor budget on March 12 led to zero comments and there was no discussion of any of the Warrant Committee’s suggestions, nor were any of those suggestions taken.
However, the Town Council did tweak and reduce the budget by taking money out of some of the Conners Emerson capital improvement plan (CIP) budget and use it instead for the general fund, which means that this amount of money in the total $30,568,005 budget will not have to be generated this year.
Councilor Joe Minutolo suggested the move during the quick meeting where Vice Chair Maya Caines and Councilor Randell Sprague had excused absences.
Minutolo said he had quite a few people concerned about the rise of taxes.
“I got digging in a little bit deeper,” he said of the budget and its burden. “It is. It’s up there.”
His suggestion was to take money out of the Conners Emerson CIP budget.
CIPs are meant to create a roadmap for capital improvement projects in the future. Those plans typically involve timing and planned financing so that bigger expenses (buying a fire truck, fixing a roof, maintaining a structure) don’t come as one-time shocks. They are paid for over time and help governments and schools plan for growth and maintenance.
A split council supported Minutolo’s suggestion. He moved to amend the Conners Emerson School CIP by reducing the balance in account 2194-6624 Roof Repair reserve by $50,000 and reducing the balance in account 2194-6650 Building Maintenance by $200,000.
During discussion, Conners Emerson Principal Dr. Heather Weir Webster explained that when the new school cost came in over expected levels in July 2024, they cut $11 million from the budget. Part of that cut was for furniture for the school (including for its library) and for a playground. They then created a five-year-plan to get the school completely furnished and to create a playground in stages. Minutolo had also originally suggested transferring the money in those CIP lines to the town’s general fund. Similarly, technology infrastructure was not part of the new school build.
“This is an investment for the town, right? This is a big investment,” Councilor Steven Boucher said. “So, I just want to get them off on their best foot, so whatever we can keep there, I think, would be paramount.”
Chair Val Peacock said that she doesn’t want the new school to get stuck in a situation similar to part of what necessitated a need for a new school in the first place: deferred maintenance and lack of long-term planning to keep the current buildings in shape as they aged.
“There’s going need to be some money. If the money’s saved a little over time, it’s easier than trying to put $100 or $200, $300, half a million dollars into a budget to repair something,” Peacock said.
Councilor David Kief asked about asbestos removal, but those funds are planned to be transferred to help get furniture for the school library.
The motion passed 3-2 with Minutolo, Earl Brechlin, and Kief voting in favor. Peacock and Boucher voted against.
“The Town Council approved using previously designated capital funds for the Conners Emerson capital projects of $250,000 for property tax relief. This will be reflected as increased revenue, less to raise in property tax. The proposed mill rate would drop to 10.53 from 10.62,” Finance Director Sarah Gilbert explained Friday.
For every $100,000 in savings, it’s roughly 4 cents on the mill rate, according to Gilbert. Minutolo’s changes equate to approximately 9 cents on the mill rate.
That mill rate is what determines how much property tax an owner must pay for every dollar of their property’s assessed value. That assessed value is determined by the town’s assessor or assessing department.
The Bar Harbor budget that will eventually be passed or tweaked again by voters in June at town meeting will influence the mill rate. The mill rate then influences the tax bill.
Brechlin then motioned that the Town Council hereby adopts the FY27 Municipal Budget: Other Revenues as follows:
• “Other Revenues in the amount of $15,770,898,
• “use of Fund Balance – Cruise Ship in the amount of $111,073, and
• “use of Unassigned Fund Balance in the amount of $500,000 $750,000.”
That motion passed unanimously.
Warrant Committee Chair Christine Smith had given a summary of the Warrant Committee’s budget recommendations to the Town Council, February 24.
Suggestions varied from not supporting three proposed new positions, reevaluating the use of a survey company, and taking out money for community events that is usually given to the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce to help with the Fourth of July and holiday events.
The Warrant Committee itself can’t make changes to the budget that will eventually go before voters at town meeting. That’s the Town Council’s responsibility, but it does make recommendations prior to the council moving that budget forward. It also eventually votes to recommend or not multiple pieces of the budget. Voters hear that vote during the June budget vote.
NOMINATION PAPERS AVAILABLE
Nomination papers are now available at the town office in Bar Harbor for the 13 different seats that will be open. To be on the ballot, candidates must have 25 signatures from registered Bar Harbor voters. The election is June 9.
Seats that will be determined are:
- Town Council: 3 seats for 3-year terms.
- School Board Member: 2 seats for 3-year terms.
- MDI High School Trustee: 1 seat for a 3-year term.
- Warrant Committee: 5 seats for 3-year terms and 2 seats for a 1-year term.
For more information, please contact the town clerk’s office Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., by calling (207) 288-4098.
For the Town Council, Chair Val Peacock, Vice Chair Maya Caines, and David Kief’s terms expire.
For the School Committee Vice Chair Misha Mytar and Mike Kiers have expiring terms.
For the Warrant Committee Chair Christine Smith, Carol Chappell, Elissa Chesler, Kevin DesVeaux, Shaun Farrar, and Kevin Knopp. There is also a currently vacant seat.
The MDI High School Trustee seat is currently vacant.
Completed nomination petitions must be filed with the town clerk’s office by 5 p.m. on Friday, April 10. Contact 288-4098 with any questions.
DISCLOSURE: Shaun Farrar, a member of the Warrant Committee, is my husband. He is also a contributor to the Bar Harbor Story, primarily covering Trenton and Tremont.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Acadia Brochures of Maine.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
FY27 Budget
Presented by the Town Manager and Finance Director January 22, 2026
Budget Review Process
Council/Warrant Committee Budget Workshops:
January 22 – Introduction of the municipal budget by Manager and Finance Director
January 27 – School Budget
January 29 – Discussion of outside agency requests
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