From Playground Fixes to Property Taxes
Big Decisions Ahead for Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor Voters
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Side Street Cafe.
MOUNT DESERT & SOUTHWEST HARBOR—A pair of town meetings next Monday and Tuesday will shape the future for two island communities. In both Mount Desert and Southwest Harbor, voters will elect municipal officials, vote on budgets, and decide on key local issues—from municipal wages to a multimillion-dollar school renovation bond.
MOUNT DESERT
Elections
First in Mount Desert, on May 5, voters can vote in uncontested elections for municipal officers, all are for three-year terms.
Vice Chair Wendy Littlefield is running unopposed for reelection to the town’s selectboard. Rodney King is running unopposed for Rick Mooers’ seat. Mooers did not run.
Gail Marshall and Andrew Solomon are both running for two seats on the Mount Desert Elementary School Committee. Jarrod Kushla and Jennica Piecuch chose not to run again.
Carole Plenty also chose not to run again for her seat on the MDI High School Board of Trustees. Daniel Kane is running unopposed.
Free Dinner, Budget, and School Bond
On May 6, the town meeting resumes at 6 p.m. at The Neighborhood House in Northeast Harbor to vote on 75 warrant articles. The Community Café will provide a free meal at 5 p.m.
The warrant articles involve the budgets, the potential increases for some municipal salaries, and also amendments to the town’s land use zoning ordinance (LUZO).
One of the big choices the town has to make is whether to accept a $6 million bond for renovations to Mount Desert Elementary School. Repairs needed include a new roof and maintenance shed, renovations to the kitchen, building’s envelope, the building itself, security and parking improvements as well as a playground upgrade.
“Our building subcommittee has continued to work with Steven Blatt Architects to develop a plan for significant maintenance and building improvements for the Mount Desert Elementary School. We have identified key areas where work needs to be done to ensure the condition of this building is maintained to the best of our ability and that it best serves our students and staff. One key area that needs to be addressed is the overall building envelope. We are looking to replace windows that are at the end of their useful life. The brick veneer needs to be repaired to keep the elements out and warmth in. The current roof covering is nearing the end of its useful life. The maintenance shed is in need of replacement. We are also looking to make security and kitchen delivery improvements as well as parking and playground upgrades. There is a warrant article requesting a bond issue to begin this renovation work,” Public Works Director and MDES School Committee Chair Brian Henkel said in the town report.
At an estimated 5.5% interest rate for a 20-year-term, that town would have a total debt service on that bond of approximately $9.1 million. Both the selectboard and warrant committee recommend its passage.
The school budget’s proposed increase is approximately 8.2% to $5.8 million. The town’s appropriation increase is 4.25% or approximately $5.25 million. This increase would be approximately $8.58 per $100,000 valuation.
Amendments to the LUZO deal with solar energy system regulations and state law compliance when it comes to mobile homes and manufactured homes.
Details
Voting begins at 21 Sea Street, Northeast Harbor at 8:00 a.m. and lasts until 8:00 p.m. on May 5.
The open floor town meeting will be at Neighborhood House, 1 Kimball Rd, Northeast Harbor at 6:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 6, 2025.
Food will be served beginning at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday and is free to the public.
Copies of the town report and warrant are available at the town office and on the town’s website at www.mtdesert.org.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Elections
There are contested races in the Southwest Harbor elections.
For the select board, Thomas Benson, Natasha Johnson, Dan Norwood, and James Valette are all seeking one of the two available three-year terms. Johnson and Vallette are incumbants. Benson and Norwood have previously served.
Jacques Newell Taylor is running unopposed for the three-year term for the school board. Steven Hudson is running unopposed for the three-year MDI High School Trustee seat.
Ordinance Changes
There are three questions on the secret ballot portion of the town meeting, Tuesday, May 6.
The first is about updates to the town’s shellfish ordinance, which puts the town in compliance with the state about junior resident recreational and nonresident junior recreational shellfish licenses. Those will still be free.
The second ordinance is about the 911 addressing ordinance. The third is about the subdivision ordinances. Both involve minor changes to the formatting of the ordinances.
Shellfish Ordinance: Click here to view
911 Addressing Ordinance: Click here to view
Subdivision Ordinance: Click here to view
The Budget and Warrant Articles
The total municipal budget has a proposed 15.7% increase to approximately $6.37 million.
The education budget has a proposed 12.1% increase to approximately $6.68 million. The highest percentage increase is the MDI High School assessment (15.9% or $1.96 million). The Southwest Harbor School Department’s own proposed increase is 10.6% ($4.7 million).
The county budget has a 20.4% increase to $513,965.
The net to be raised by property tax is approximately $11.6 million, a 14% increase. The mill rate would be 10.1.
There are almost 50 articles on the warrant, most are routine.
DETAILS
Annual Town Meeting
Monday, May 5, 2025
Pemetic Elementary School
7:00pm
Town Meeting Warrant
Annual Town Election
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
SWH Fire Station
10:00am - 8:00pm
Election info
Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.