ANDROSCOGGIN COUNTY, Maine - Twelve of 14 municipalities in Androscoggin County have filed a lawsuit in Superior Court, alleging that county commissioners improperly set their own salaries, benefits, and the county budget.
The municipalities are asking the commissioners to return all of their salaries and benefits that were never approved by the budget committee.
According to the complaint, state lawmakers approved a change to the Androscoggin County charter in the last legislative session that transferred budget authority from the budget committee - which is composed of citizens and municipal officials - to the commissioners.
Despite that change, Peter Brann, the attorney representing the municipalities, says state law still requires a finance committee to approve the budget.
"A finance committee should have oversight, in the sense that you wouldn't allow your kids to set their own allowance and then just send you the bill," Brann says.
The lawsuit contends that municipalities provide approximately 80 percent of Androscoggin County’s budget.
The chair of the Androscoggin County commissioners, Beth Bell, says the commissioners will review the lawsuit with legal counsel, "but are confident that the county has carried out its business in full compliance with the terms of the charter."
