China Budget Committee members reviewed the warrant for the June 9 annual town budget meeting at their March 26 meeting, which Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood said should be their final one this spring.
The seven members recommended that voters approve all proposed financial articles. Most votes were unanimous; some members abstained on some votes, like a volunteer firefighter on a vote to fund the town’s fire departments, to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
Town Manager Rebecca Hapgood planned to forward the warrant with the budget recommendations to select board members, who plan to give final approval at their Monday, April 7, meeting.
Major 2026-27 expenditure requests not included in the town business meeting warrant are the Kennebec County requisition and the school budget.
The Kennebec County board whose members approve the county budget is scheduled to meet at noon on April 7 and April 21, in Augusta.
The Regional School Unit (RSU) #18 website says the RSU board (which includes representatives of Belgrade, China, Oakland, Rome and Sidney) is scheduled to adopt its budget either April 1 or April 15.
The annual district budget meeting, at which residents of the five towns discuss and vote on the 2026-27 budget, is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, May 21, at Messalonskee High School Performing Arts Center, in Oakland. The written-ballot budget referendum, at which voters approve or reject that May 21 decision, will be part of June 9 voting in the five towns.
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