By Dawn De Busk

Staff Writer

CASCO — Casco Town Manager Courtney O’Donnell presented a more fiscally conservative way of paying for the Memorial Field Park improvements instead of floating the $9.5 million bond that was approved at Annual Town Meeting 2019.

She recommended using money from the Unassigned Fund Balance, also known as the General Fund.

On Tuesday night, O’Donnell presented her proposal for an alternative funding source for the Casco Memorial Field park as well as the reasoning behind her approach to the Casco Board of Selectmen. 

The town would not be subject to the interest rates of a bond, she said. And, the town would not add another bond cost to its remaining debt from a previous roads-and-infrastructure bond.

Plus, using money in the general fund would not impact the tax rate, O’Donnell said.

On the other hand, if the town proceeded to secure a bond, it would most likely result in some sort of increase in the mil rate.

Essentially, the residents will have to vote at a Special Town Meeting to use the funds from the Unassigned Fund Balance. (Those funds would be used over the course of three fiscal years rather than in one fell swoop.)

In fact, the selectmen set a Special Town Meeting for Jan. 7, 2020, so citizens could weigh in on earmarking the money that is actually being carried forward from the previous fiscal year.

On Tuesday, O’Donnell stressed that the Memorial Field park project will go forward no matter what.

In fact, the Casco Planning Board has approved a site plan for the Memorial Field Park

Voters at town meeting did support a bond, which means the project of creating a community park next to the ballfields was important to those residents.

“Regardless of how it is funded, this project will move forward,” O’Donnell said.

“In my professional opinion, bonding should be done for large projects that cannot be done any other way,” she said.

Because the timeline for the improvements have to take place over a few fiscal years, the amount of money needed can also be spread out.

The work on the Memorial Field park that is being slated for 2020 includes: drainage, constructing a multi-purpose field, irrigation, a walking path, field lighting and electrical.

The sports field has “to rest for a season” before being used by athletes.

Later, in 2021, the parking lot and curbs and striping will be done. Additionally, there would be some lighting for the parking lot. 

“Keep in mind the my proposed timeline covers two to three fiscal years. The bulk of the works would be completed next spring, summer and fall,” O’Donnell said.

She said the approach of using the General Fund would be appropriate since the park improvements are slated to span a few fiscal years. 

“It would be helpful to take the cost of this project from the Unassigned Fund Balance because [the town is] not grabbing a huge amount in one go. We would be taking the chunks as we need so it would be spread out,” she said.

“That way it doesn’t effect cash flow,” O’Donnell said.

Lastly, the Memorial Field Park is not necessarily the official name of the community park and ballfields.

“We are calling it the Memorial Field Park for now,” O’Donnell said.

Most likely, when the park project is wrapped up there will be “ceremonial unveiling” possibly with a new name.

Chairman Holly Hancock added to the topic.

“We could have a discussion with [Casco] Parks and Recreation. They might have some sort of outreach to the community and find a great name for it,” Hancock said.