AUBURN — With some last-minute tweaks to the way it handles special funds for its ice arena, Ingersoll Arena and rescue service equipment, councilors approved their fiscal year 2015-16 budget Monday.
Councilors voted 5-1 to approve a budget that increases municipal spending from $34.1 million to $34.7 million — a $568,302 increase and under the 1.8 percent spending cap councilors set earlier this year. Monday’s vote was the final one on the budget.
School spending increases a little more, from $38.2 million to $39 million — a 2.15 percent increase. Voters approved that spending plan at the polls last week.
The new budget sets the city’s tax rate at $21.44 per $1,000 of value, a 49 cent increase on the tax rate. It would increase taxes on a $100,000 home by $49; taxes on a home valued at $150,000 would increase by $73.50.
The only changes councilors made Monday was creating enterprise-fund language to manage how money for three special project is handled.
First, councilors agreed to pay for any deficits at the Norway Savings Bank Arena out of the city’s general fund and treat that as loan. The arena is meant to be self-sufficient but is currently operating at a deficit.
Second, they adopted a financial plan for the indoor turf operation at the Ingersoll Arena. That budget currently has that facility operating in the black.
Finally, councilors created a capital reserve fund to pay for Emergency Medical Transport equipment and vehicles out of EMT service revenues.
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