The town of Casco unveiled its proposed municipal budget for the 2027 fiscal year. The budget would increase municipal spending by $259,690, or 4.6%, to a total of $5.9 million.

The budget was created after the Select Board and budget committee held four joint workshops throughout March to discuss the proposals from each department. The final budget, which will appear on the warrant articles at Casco’s town meeting in June, was created from a mix of proposals from the town manager, Select Board, finance committee, and the heads of the various town departments.

The first workshop, held on March 9, focused on the fire/EMS and public works budgets, while the subsequent department workshops, held on March 10 and March 16, respectively, focused on the code enforcement and planning budgets and the administration and debt services budgets, among other departments.

The final workshop, held on March 23, focused on non-municipal budget items such as the transfer station and Maine School Administrative District 61. As of early April, the budget for the school district had not been ratified.

Town Manager Anthony Ward said the focus of the workshops was on the needs and wants of the community. Regarding the property tax rate, Ward said the rate was not finalized, as the assessing department was still working out the overlays and property valuation.

The largest increase in terms of percentage will go toward the open space commission, whose budget will increase by $11,500, or 287.5%, to $15,500. Meanwhile, the largest increase in terms of numbers will go toward the fire department, whose budget will go up by $74,560, or 5.87%. The department seeing the biggest decrease in terms of percentage will be the planning board, whose budget will be cut by $3,600, or 39.67%, to $5,475.

The budget for capital expenses will nearly double, increasing by 98.5% from $600,000 in fiscal year 2026 to $1.19 million in 2027.

The warrant articles will be presented to the Town Council on April 7, and are expected to be finalized by early May. They will be voted on at the town meeting on June 3.