Spring is right around the corner, which at the Town brings with it budget season and an anticipation for summer programs, seasonal hiring, and more. This spring is expected to be routine with standard municipal operations and the start of some road work. We also continue to prepare for Scottow Hill Road next steps and anticipate other projects that may need to be funded through next year's budget. Read on to learn more, and find out about other program and event dates.

Feel like answering a few questions? We launched a quick poll this week to learn more about home & business energy use in Scarborough. This is to help with a new Climate Action Plan we're developing (learn more below). Take the brief survey for a chance to win a Hannaford gift card.

Municipal Budget Process Starts April 1

Around early spring each year, the Town Manager proposes the budget for the fiscal year ahead. The FY2027 budget will be presented to the Town Council on Wednesday, April 1st. The focus of this year's budget is to maintain the level of quality services that our community expects while showing restraint on investments in anticipation of the upcoming school building project. We'll share more reminders for the presentation as it nears, and will be doing highlights of what's included in the budget in the months ahead. Hear a councilor's perspective on the upcoming budget in the article below, provided by Councilor Larry Cain who serves as chair of the Finance committee.

Tax Dollars at Work

Meet the Departments Behind Your Town Services

A priority of the municipal budget is to ensure that each department has the resources needed to provide essential services to our community. We want our community members to have a positive experience when they interact with Town staff or use a service we provide. Here are just a few of our departments and the services they provide our community:

Community Services

Community Services consists of recreation, intergenerational programs, grounds and facilities maintenance, and beach management. Last year they added specialty programs like Bollywood dance lessons and craft fair business 101. They also expanded their Active Adults programming by 30% and saw a 33% increase in new participants.

Public Works

The Public Works Department oversees the development and maintenance of the Town's infrastructure, vehicular equipment, and specialized services like waste/recycling, cemetery care, and tree care. Last year, the department responded to 2,398 requests for service from residents, Town departments, and other municipalities.

Assessing

Four employees assist in the annual valuation of all property in Town, maintain property information, and handle tax relief programs. Last year they processed 472 applications for Senior Property Tax Assistance, as well as the Homestead Exemption Program benefitting 5,522 taxpayers.

Finance

The Finance department works to provide accurate and timely financial information and services so the community, elected officials, and Town departments can make informed decisions. Last year the Revenue office processed 52,861 receipts, including property tax collections, vehicle and boat registrations, hunting and fishing licenses, and more.

Conversations with Councilors Series Concludes

The Town Council made it a 2026 goal to engage with the public and meet them where they are in areas across town. They kicked off these efforts with a second round of "Conversations with the Councilors", a series they started last fall and resumed through the month of February. Meeting places included the North Scarborough Fire Station, Blue Point School, and Pleasant Hill School. Here are some of the topics that were discussed:

• Views on timely topics like short term rentals, Scottow Hill Road, and LD 1829

• Public transportation, traffic, and beach parking

• Preparing for the budget and its effect on taxes

• The unique sets of issues that vary depending on area of town

Thank you to all who took the time to attend and share your thoughts with the council! They will continue to pass these thoughts along to staff. If you have any thoughts or questions, email towncouncil@scarboroughmaine.org.

Spring Fun With Community Services

Park Hop Egg Hunt

March 2-31

The Easter Bunny visited Scarborough and dropped eggs all over town! Can you retrace the Bunny’s tracks and help find the eggs? Keep an eye on our website and Community Services Facebook page for a coloring page map to retrace the Bunny's tracks. Submit the completed map for a chance to be 1 of 6 participants to win a basket full of goodies! Downloadable map coming soon!

Bunny Breakfast

Saturday, March 28

9:00-10:30am, Wentworth Cafeteria

$10 per family; Ticket sales opening soon!

Join us for a yummy breakfast with our favorite special guest... The Easter Bunny! The menu includes pancakes, sausage, hash browns, and fruit, along with all of the fixings. Don’t forget to bring your camera for a photo op with the Bunny!

Spring Programs Brochure Out Now!

Regional Response to LD 1829 Continues

Following a February 17th public hearing in which the Town Council provided testimony to the state legislature on LD 1829 and its fix bill, LD 2173, a collaborative effort among multiple stakeholders continues to provide feedback and proposed amendments. This follow-up was led by Greater Portland Council of Governments (GPCOG), who developed a unified response from municipalities, planning professionals, public safety departments, utilities, and advocacy organizations. They shared this with members of the state legislature in a February 26th work session.

Background

Set to go into effect in July 2026, LD 1829 "An Act to Build Housing for Maine Families and Attract Workers to Maine Businesses by Amending the Laws Governing Municipal Land Use Decisions", would significantly increase housing density and limit a community’s ability to control of the rate of growth. The Scarborough Town Council passed a resolution in early January to express concerns with it, establishing itself as a regional leader in advocating for amendments.

Ordinance Committee Considers Short Term Rentals

The Ordinance Committee is resuming discussions on creating a short term rental ordinance. It considers caps on the annual number of permitted short-term rentals (STRs) and amendments the Zoning Ordinance to add new uses, establish where they are permitted, and exclusion zones where the cap doesn't apply. It will be included in their next committee meeting on March 5 to continue the progress toward developing an ordinance.

View the February 11th ordinance committee meeting agenda with links to materials to learn more about the options being contemplated

Upcoming Public Meetings

Wednesday, March 4

Regular Town Council Meeting, 7:00pm

Thursday, March 5

Ordinance Committee Meeting, 5:00pm

Board of Education Meeting, 7:00pm

Thursday, March 12

Finance Committee Meeting, 5:00pm

Monday, March 16

Planning Board Meeting, 6:30pm

Wednesday, March 18

Regular Town Council Meeting, 7:00pm

All meetings are held in Council Chambers at Town Hall unless otherwise noted. Meetings are streamed on Zoom and YouTube unless otherwise indicated. Find links and times for all public meetings on the Town Calendar (links are typically added a few days prior to the meeting).

Town Council Reviews Updates to School Impact Fees

In their February 18th meeting, the Town Council held a first reading on proposed amendments to school impact fees. The updates are intended to reflect the cost of the new school solution, as well as existing school construction debt, through a new methodology designed to assign a portion of these costs through impact fees.

Impact fees are a tool used by municipalities to pay for new capital improvements needed to service growth. The fees are paid by developers proportionate to their impact on infrastructure. The School Impact Fee was added in 2002, and now that we have a specific project and cost (school solution passed in 2025), it is recommended that the school impact fee be modified to reflect this updated information. A public hearing and second reading will be held at their next meeting on Wednesday, March 4th.

Radio Project Considered for Upcoming Budget

The Town Council held a workshop on February 18th to learn about a significant project that could be on the Fall referendum. The Town is exploring a major municipal two-way radio communications system upgrade for its public safety, public service, and school departments in Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach. Scarborough currently provides emergency dispatch services for both Scarborough and Old Orchard Beach, and the communities are working together on a shared vision to modernize and integrate their communications systems. Many key components of the existing radio infrastructure have reached or exceeded their expected service life and are no longer supported by the manufacturers to repair or replace when failures occur. This presents a significant risk to system performance, increasing the potential for communication outages that could impact public safety operations.

Now that the Town Council has held a workshop to understand the basics, they will have further discussions during the FY2027 budget process this spring. Staff is working with the selected vendor to refine the costs and explore other funding opportunities to prepare for these discussions.

Projects Featured on our Website

Wondering what the latest is on an ongoing project? We do our best to cover the most recent updates in this newsletter, but our "What's Happening" page on the website is a great resource for more materials and background on ongoing projects—and there are a lot of them! Peruse the page to learn more or check back anytime.

Scarborough Projects Included in MaineDOT 3-Year Plan

The Maine Department of Transportation recently released their 3-year work plan for investments across the state. The plan includes paving, safety improvements, rehabilitating bridges, and investing in transit operations statewide. Scarborough is included in several projects both at the local level and as part of larger regional efforts:

Road Improvements

• $4.8 million (federal) Route 22/Broadturn Rd intersection reconstruction (2027)

• Light capital paving of Rt 701 (Scarborough Connector) (2028)

• Light capital paving of Rt 114 from Payne Rd to Running Hill Rd (2027)

• Light capital paving of Payne Rd from Mussey Rd to South Portland line (2028)

Regional Projects

• $2.3 million between 2026-2028 in capital and operational funding for the new Scarborough bus and microtransit service (funded by the MTA)

• Portland West Balanced Mobility Improvement Study (2026)

Design Studies

• $755,000 for design work on Rt 1 reconstruction through the marsh (2026)

• $205,000 for design work for Pine Point Rd marsh crossing reconstruction (2026)

• $520,000 for design work for County Rd through North Scarborough from the Westbrook to Gorham line (2026)

• $646,000 for design work for Rt 114 (Gorham Rd) through North Scarborough from Payne Rd to Rt 22 (2026)

• $500,000 for design work for repair/replacement of the Payne Rd Red Brook bridge (2026)

• $300,000 (federal grant) for design work for bicycle/pedestrian/safety improvements for the Sawyer Rd/Rt 1 intersection (2026)

The Portland Area Comprehensive Transportation System (PACTS) is another regional partner that will include funding for Scarborough projects in their work plans. We'll share more as their plans are finalized. The Town of Scarborough is also finalizing its paving plans for the year ahead—we'll share the list when it's complete.

We keep a map of planned traffic improvement projects up-to-date on our website. They are designated by who funds the project: developers, the Town, or State (MaineDOT). Explore the map to learn more.

Coming Soon: Spurwink Road Phase 2

Road work begins on Spurwink Road for Phase 2 of the project on March 15th. It is anticipated to be complete by the end of June. The project will be on Spurwink Road from Pleasant Hill Road to the Cape Elizabeth town line. Please be aware and anticipate potential delays.

Climate Action Plan Identifies Biggest Emission Sources

Last fall, the Town began work on Sustaining Scarborough, a community-supported Climate Action Plan that aims to be a practical, responsible, and crucial roadmap to reduce greenhouse gas pollution. The process will help us understand where emissions are coming from throughout the entire community and develop strategies to reduce climate pollution. 

Working with a team of experts from Kim Lundgren Associates (KLA), the planning process started with a community-wide analysis of energy use and carbon emissions. KLA looked at things like electricity use, building heat sources, driving habits, and waste generation to understand the biggest opportunities to reduce pollution. Based on the analysis, the two largest sources of emissions in Scarborough are from vehicles (44%) and building energy use (40%).

Take the Quick Poll About Energy Use

We need your help to determine what’s next. What resources do you need to make your home or business more energy efficient? How should Scarborough prepare for intense storms and flooding? In the coming months, there will be opportunities for all ages to get involved. Make your voice heard and help us to develop a Climate Action Plan that is reflective of our community’s priorities and needs. Get started by taking our first Quick Poll about energy use.

Share Feedback on East Grand Ave Design by March 31

The Town of Scarborough is going through the process of making improvements to East Grand Ave in the Pine Point area. Staff is seeking resident feedback on the project design plans. If you have not already attended the virtual meeting held last month to review design plans or shared feedback, please consider submitting your comments. The Town will be accepting feedback through March 31 for review by the Transportation Committee before their final approval in April.

Volunteer on a Town Board or Committee

Looking to broaden your professional experience or get more involved on the local level? We have openings on Planning Board, Tree Care Advisory Board (new!), and Conservation Commission.

To apply, complete an online application (also linked on our Boards & Committees webpage). Select the board/committee(s) you're interested in joining. The Appointments & Negotiations Committee (Town Council) meets monthly and reviews applications on an ongoing basis. You will be notified after that time.

Now Hiring for Seasonal Summer Positions

Looking for a change of pace this summer? We are now hiring for several seasonal positions:

• Summer Camp Counselor

• Art Supervisor (Summer Camp)

• Gym Supervisor (Summer Camp)

• Park Ranger

• Summer Beach Attendant

• Parking Enforcement

We are also hiring for a few full-time year-round positions. Check our job board to learn more and apply!

Council Corner: Budget Season

By Larry Cain, Town Council / Finance Committee Chair

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Scarborough Town Council.

Since the traditional mud season seems to be a long way off, let’s talk about Budget Season, which can also be fairly muddy.

This is my first year being involved with the Town’s budget formation. It is just getting started, and runs through the June 9th school budget vote. There are currently more than 15 meetings scheduled for the School Board, Town Council and Finance Committee. That does not include all the work at the staff level to collect, calculate and review the underlying data and statistics that are needed for a thorough analysis. 

Just like your family budget, there are competing priorities for a limited amount of financial resources. Like you, the Town has to produce a balanced budget. Some things have to get pushed off or reduced in cost. Other choices are so urgent that you cannot help but include them. In the end, the hard decisions come down to what we can afford, while also considering the tax impacts to the community.  

This year, the Town Council has a stated goal of a zero percent tax increase that consists of the following key points:

• Start with the premise of no increase to the mil rate

• Accept that contracted labor increases are inevitable

• Give Department leadership direction to find savings

• Prioritize one time expense needs, rather perpetual overhead expenses

• Work with the School Department to control labor cost additions and to reduce capital spending projects  

This is an aspirational goal to control spending, with a recognition of the upcoming tax impacts from the school projects and other Town needs. I am in favor of this goal, but I do acknowledge the realities and cost pressures that every town faces. As indicated above, there are certainly built in challenges that are not in our control; like inflation, contractual increases for Town employees, State mandates for increased school staffing and higher County tax obligations. 

I based my support for the Council goal on a technique called Zero Based Budgeting. The theory is that you start with the premise that there will be no increases above the previous year’s spending. It should force everyone to contemplate where there can be savings to offset any increases; and to justify any proposal for additional spending. Rather than setting a tax increase target that is above the previous year and working up to that target, we start at zero and work to hold the line. Hopefully, it also demands a hard look at any existing spending that might be reduced or eliminated. Realistically, this rarely ends with a zero budget increase. It is a collective mindset to work towards restrained spending and well reasoned outcomes.

During the initial discussions at the Town level, there has been a strong commitment to participate in the process. Our Town Manager, Tom Hall, and his staff, intend to work diligently towards this aggressive goal. They will also report out what would need to be sacrificed to get there. This is a very healthy way to approach the process because it informs us of the negative impacts that Town residents could feel by reducing investments, services and staffing.  

There will be many opportunities for the taxpayers to be informed and involved along the way. While the challenges will be complex and daunting at times, please be assured that there is strong alignment on the Council and within the Town staff to deliver superior results at the lowest possible cost.

My personal goal is that by the time the real mud season gets here, the budget outlook will be much clearer. 

Scarborough Town Council

Cory Fellows (Chair) • Larry Cain (Vice Chair) • Jonathan Anderson • Scott Doherty • Bill Donovan • Michelle Hayes • Karin Shupe

Town Council meets the first and third Wednesday of each month (third Wednesday only in July and August). Visit our Town Calendar for links to attend and view agendas.

March 2: School Board Hosts Community Forum

Your Voice Matters — Community Q&A with the School Board

Monday, March 2, 6:00-7:30pm

Wentworth Library / Zoom

Come share your thoughts, ask questions, and engage in open discussion about our schools. Whether you want to talk about academics, technology, safety, facilities, communication, or something else entirely, this forum is for you. We look forward to listening.

April 7: School Board Hosts Senior Citizen Dinner

Tuesday, April 7, 4:00-6:30pm (Dinner served at 5:00pm)

Wentworth School Cafeteria

Sign up online or call (207) 730-4150

Attend the 3rd annual dinner party to celebrate senior citizens in Scarborough! Enjoy a dinner prepared by the nutrition department and served by students. Watch live performances from various school clubs, admire work and achievements on display, and enter to win some raffles!

Upcoming Programs at Scarborough Public Library

Death Cafe with Die Well Death Education

Tuesday, March 3, 5:30-7:00pm

Learn more

At a Death Cafe, people - often strangers - gather to eat cake, drink tea, and discuss death. Our objective is 'to increase awareness of death with a view to helping people make the most of their finite lives.' It is a group-directed discussion of death with no agenda, objectives, or themes. It is a discussion group rather than a grief support or counseling session. All are welcome - join us! 

Maine Author Talk with Robin Merle

Friday, March 6, 12:00-1:00pm

Register

Join Scarborough author Robin Merle as she discusses her second book, a novel titled A Dangerous Friendship. Set in 1980s New York, this darkly humorous, literary women’s fiction novel follows Tina, a newly divorced aspiring writer, who becomes obsessed with Spike—an alluring, chaotic woman with a thrilling past. Their intense friendship takes them from city nights to a reckless summer in the woods filled with secrets and lies. As their bond deepens, Tina must face the truth: Spike may be the greatest danger of all. A story of obsession, betrayal, and survival. Books will be available for purchase and signing.

Driving Fitness, Health & Aging

Monday, March 9, 12:00-1:30pm

Register

For older adults and those who worry about them, this program strives to inform about how aging-related changes in health and function may impact driving safety, how the Maine BMV addresses medical-fitness-to-drive concerns, and how older drivers may self-regulate to remain safely behind the wheel or make a smooth transition into diving retirement. Presentation led by Tom Meuser, a clinical psychologist, applied gerontologist, and social scientist based in Portland.

Beware the Ides of March! Table Read

Saturday, March 14, 1:00-4:00pm

Register (Low seat count)

Sign up to be one of the actors or show up to listen! Scripts will be provided, and we will be acting only with our voices. Acting ability or experience is not required, we’re here for a good time. Julius Caesar -- A compelling story of betrayed friends and bids for political power, of leaders and insurrections, ambition and honor, history and legacy.