MACHIAS, Maine — Washington County is grappling with a serious financial crisis that officials say is the result of years of budget mismanagement. Now, newly appointed members of the county's Budget Advisory Committee are working with commissioners to address a projected $3 million deficit in the upcoming fiscal year.

"The taxpayers deserve to know how we got into this position, what types of errors were made, and how we intend to change those procedures," Commissioner Chair David Burns explained.

At the committee's first meeting, community leaders joined county commissioners to discuss proposals to increase the county's budget by 40 percent, and ask voters to approve an $11 million bond in the upcoming November election.

"We have made a series of errors, and the more people involved,

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