Caribou city councilors Monday night heard initial departmental budget requests for 2026 that marked a 4.6% increase over the previous fiscal year.
The $13.6 million expense budget is roughly $575,000 higher than in 2025. It’s accompanied by a $2 million capital request, which is nearly double what was passed the previous year and is largely driven by payments for a new ladder truck for the fire department.
Along with a $625,000 payment that is the first of three installments for the new ladder truck, capital requests include $475,000 for the remounting of several ambulances, $227,750 for a plow truck replacement and $165,000 for major street repair.
“It’s a huge amount,” Fire Chief Brian Lajoie said after discussing his capital requests.
“But it’s needed,” Councilor Dan Bagley replied.
The department’s current ladder truck was purchased in 2002, and while still operational, has outlived the typical 20-year lifespan of the vehicles. It could take upwards of four years after the truck is ordered for the department to receive it, Lajoie said.
Because the cost exceeds half a million, it will have to come before voters for referendum approval in the November election.
In the departmental requests, six departments are asking for less funding than the previous year. Of those who are requesting additional funds, the biggest increases come from the police and fire departments, with roughly 9% increases mostly attributable to salary, overtime and retirement.
Revenue budgets were not available as a part of the presentation Monday.
The municipal ask accounted for roughly 40% of Caribou tax bills in 2025. Another 11% came from the county, while 49% was attributable to the RSU 39, the school district based in the city.
The district’s budget increased by nearly $1 million for the third year in a row this summer, but is set to decrease its burden on local taxpayers because of a state subsidy increase of approximately the same amount and $500,000 in cuts brought after the public shot down the budget twice at referendum.
The council will hold a budget workshop on March 9 as it works toward passing a budget for the new fiscal year.
