WATERVILLE — City councilors Tuesday are scheduled to vote on a proposed $37.4 million municipal and school budget that would increase the tax rate by 50 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in the council chambers at The Center downtown.

If the council passes the budget, the current tax rate of $27.40 per $1,000 worth of assessed valuation would increase 50 cents to $27.90.

Councilors June 16 took a first vote to approve the proposal after twice delaying a vote because some councilors said a previously proposed $37.8 million budget represented too significant an increase and city officials did not know how much the city would get in school subsidy and state revenue sharing money.

Councilors said they may even reduce the proposal further Tuesday and approve a budget that represents no tax increase.

“These aren’t the final numbers,” Council Chairman Fred Stubbert, D-Ward 1, said after the vote. “There may very well be improvements. You can be sure it’s not going to get any worse than this. This is probably the worst it’s going to get.”

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If they approve a $37.4 million budget, a person who owns a home worth $100,000 will pay a $50 increase in taxes.

The current proposal represents a 0.05 percent increase — about $200,000 — from the current $37.2 million budget.

Officials cite insurance, contract-driven salary increases and loss of state revenue as reasons for increases in the budget.

In recent weeks, city officials trimmed $208,838 in school costs from the budget.

They also said they project a $10,000 increase in technology assistance fees to other towns.

They cut $57,000 from the proposal by deciding not to hire a full-time person in the code enforcement office and said they expect an increase in the city’s refund from Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. of $50,750. PERC, of Orrington, incinerates the city’s trash.

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City officials, including City Manager Michael Roy, said recently that while the city’s fiscal year ended June 30 and the council will vote on the 2015-16 budget after that date, city employees will still get paid with money in the current budget.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17


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