In recent years, Harpswell voters have approved funding for two major projects: $1.2 million for the renovation of the Recycling Center and $6 million for the construction of a new central fire station.
I understand both projects are now way over budget. In September 2025, the Anchor reported that the cost to renovate the Recycling Center would be $1.77 million. A new building would be cheaper, at $1.47 million.
The original estimate for the station was $4.8 million for “hard costs” and $1.2 million for “soft costs.” I now have learned that several months ago, the architect revealed that hard costs alone are now $6.2 million. To my knowledge, the station budget issue has not yet been made public.
No one should be surprised by these cost overruns, given the impact of tariffs on the price and availability of materials, but I am concerned by the lack of information going out to the public.
Unlike with the Clark Cove issue, for which handouts were provided at the March Town Meeting, I don’t recall any information on why and how $300,000 for the Recycling Center would be used — especially disconcerting since the $1.2 million now set aside isn’t enough to do the project. The Anchor article last September indicated work would not begin until fall 2026 or spring 2027, by which time costs will have escalated even more.
With regard to the station, to my knowledge, no hard data on the cost overruns has yet been released to the public, even though this information was given to town officials months ago by the architect.
Updated and timely information about big projects like these should be made easily accessible to taxpayers via notices on the town website, especially since we are going to be asked to vote on additional monies.
Liz Taylor, Orr’s Island
