Vassalboro reigns Supreme in annual report contest
Courtesy / Town of Vassalboro
Vassalboro has had the top annual report in its population category for the past seven years in the Maine Municipal Association annual report contest, which judges reports on content, looks and readability.
Just call Vassalboro the New England Patriots of the annual municipal report.
The Kennebec County town has once again reigned Supreme — and yes, that's Supreme with a capital S — in its population category in the Maine Municipal Annual Report Competition. It's the seventh year in a row the town of 4,300, between Augusta and Waterville, has won. No other report in any population category can claim such a run.
Most of the other Supreme winners will also be familiar to those who follow the contest — Cumberland, Phippsburg, Carrabassett Valley and Cranberry Isles. The towns were recognized during recent judging held at the MMA, in Augusta, for producing the highest-quality annual reports.
MMA’s Annual Report Competition, which has been held for more than 50 years, recognizes municipalities for producing reports for residents that have excellent content, are well-organized and visually appealing. Of the state's 485 municipalities, more than 200 entered reports this year, according to the MMA.
The reports are judged 60% on content, 20% on appearance and 20% on how easy they are to understand. Judges for MMA rate the reports in five population categories: 5,000 and over; 2,500 to 4,999; 1,000 to 2,499; 500 to 999; and, under 500. Awards are named Supreme (first place), Superior (second place) and Excellence (third place) in each category.
This year's winners
5,000-plus population: Cumberland, Supreme; Freeport, Superior; Waterville, Excellence.
The 2018 winners duked it out for the top three spots again this year, with Cumberland, in only its second year to appear since 2013, knocking Waterville out of the Supreme spot. Waterville tumbled to third place, the spot Cumberland held last year.
Freeport retained its Superior ranking from last year. The town has been in the top three the past seven years, with four Supreme wins, two Superior wins and one Excellence nod.
2,500 to 4,999 population: Vassalboro, Supreme; North Yarmouth and Thomaston (tie), Superior; Lyman, Excellence.
Vassalboro's incredible run as the Supreme winner in this category continues. The Kennebec County town is the only town or city to in any category to be a Supreme winner every year since 2013.
1,000 to 2,499: Phippsburg, Supreme; Mount Desert, Superior; Hope, Excellence.
This is a complete changeover from last year, when the winners were Boothbay Harbor, Rangeley and Rome.
500 to 999: Carrabassett Valley, Supreme; Bremen, Superior; Alna, Excellence.
Appearing all seven years since 2013, Carrabasset Valley battled with Cranberry Isles in for Supreme every year in the under-500 category until Carrabassett moved to the higher-population category in 2016. Carrabassett Valley has been Supreme five times including this year and Superior two times.
Under 500: Cranberry Isles, Supreme; Arrowsic, Superior; Kingsbury Plantation, Excellence.
Tiny Cranberry Isles packs a mighty punch — the group of five islands has been Supreme six times, including this year, and Superior once (beat out by Carrabassett Valley) since 2013.
Winning municipalities were notified by letter earlier this month, the MMA said. They will be recognized and the reports will be displayed at MMA’s Annual Convention Oct. 2-3 at the Cross Insurance Center in Bangor.
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