AUBURN — City councilors risk angering taxpayers by adopting a budget increase, they were told Monday night.
“We are still a very divided city,” said former City Councilor Ron Potvin, one of citizens who led an effort to recount the School Department’s budget vote. “Half want to expend money on the schools limitlessly. The other half, the ones that pay taxes, are just saying no. No more increases.”
Councilors approved the budget on first reading anyway, by a 4-2 margin. Councilors Tizz Crowley and Belinda Gerry opposed the increase. Councilor Mary Lafontaine was absent from Monday’s meeting.
Councilors are scheduled to vote on it a second and final time at their June 18 meeting.
The proposed budget calls for a 0.3 percent increase in the municipal property tax. That amounts to 2.44 percent increase in the total tax rate when combined with the school budget approved by voters last month.
Councilors said in April that they could live with a 3 percent property tax increase. Since then, Gerrish said staff found an additional $672,590 in non-property tax revenues and $153,039 in spending cuts. Municipal spending for fiscal year 2012-13, including programs shared with Lewiston and county taxes, would be $36.4 million. That’s a $748,752 increase compared to the current budget.
Combined with the school department’s $35.9 million budget approved by voters last month, Auburn would need to collect $40.8 million in property taxes, a 2.44 percent increase over the current tax rate.
If councilors approve, the new tax rate would be $19.86 per $1,000. That would amount to a $71 tax increase on a $150,000 home.
That’s too much of an increase, according to Tim Doughty, 75 Cherryvale Circle. Doughty, also one of the citizens involved in the school budget recount, said people cannot afford tax increases.
“Peoples’ ability pay taxes are not there,” Doughty said. “It’s a simple reality, but you have time to correct this. It’s not a done deal.”
But councilors said they have worked the municipal budget and were satisfied. It calls for a $588,482 increase in municipal spending and funds four new positions — an assistant city manager, a fire chief, a planner and purchasing officer.
Councilor Leroy Walker said councilors had worked hard to get that budget.
“We made cuts that were much larger to get to this point,” Walker said. “I am against further municipal cuts now.”
Councilor Robert Hayes said he was having a hard time with the public. If they oppose the budget, they need to show up.
“We’ve had public hearings, the school board has public hearings,” Hayes said.
“Where is the public? If the people have suggestions, they need to be made throughout our process.”
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