LEWISTON — The City Council will take a 1 percent budget increase to a special public hearing April 28.
Councilors wrapped up their departmental budget reviews at a special workshop meeting Thursday with a presentation about the city’s budgets for the water, sewer and storm-sewer utilities.
Finance Director Heather Hunter said the proposed $114 million spending plan amounts to a 1 percent increase in overall spending but a reduction in municipal spending.
“So the key point here is, the city’s General Fund is having a 9-cent tax-rate decrease,” Hunter said.
Overall, the city’s tax rate would be $27.64 per $1,000 of value, up 27 cents over the current $27.37 tax rate — about a $40.50 increase on a home valued at $150,000.
Hunter said councilors are scheduled to vote on the municipal budget and the general fund spending plan at a special public hearing Thursday, April 28.
The council is expected to vote on water, sewer, storm sewer and community development block grant budgets May 3 and the bonding budget for the capital improvements plan on May 17.
With the Androscoggin County budget accounting for 4 cents of the tax rate and the school budget accounting for 32 cents of the increase, the municipal tax rate is decreasing by 9 cents.
Combined with the Homestead Exemption, it will mean property taxes for qualifying residents will go down.
A $150,000 home’s taxes will go down $87.72 if the owners qualify for the Homestead Exemption. Only the most expensive homes, valued at more than $450,000, would see any increase on their property tax bills.
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