WATERVILLE — City councilors Tuesday will consider overriding Mayor Nick Isgro’s veto of a vote they took June 14 to approve a $37.4 million municipal and school budget for 2015-16.

For the budget to take effect, five of seven councilors would have to vote to override the veto.

Isgro said his veto was based on the council’s decision to put about $58,000 in unexpected revenue from the state Department of Education into the city’s surplus account rather than use it to offset the city’s projected tax increase.

If the council overrides the veto, the budget goes into effect. If the veto is sustained, the council would have to hold new votes on the city budget.

“If they don’t override the veto, it is basically open for any and all amendments,” City Manager Michael Roy said Thursday.

The $37.4 million budget reflects about a $200,000 increase over the $37.2 million budget for 2014-15. The budget increases the tax rate of $27.40 per $1,000 worth of valuation to $27.90, an increase of 50 cents. A property owner with property worth $100,000 would pay a $50 increase in taxes.

Isgro had argued that the $58,000 should be used for education, as that was the intent, and the city should not just sit on it.

The council voted 5-2 June 14 to approve the budget, with councilors Sydney Mayhew, R-Ward 4, and Karen Rancourt-Thomas, D-Ward 7, dissenting.

An amendment could include using the $58,000 to help reduce taxes, now or later.

“I’m hopeful that if the veto is sustained, that the only point of contention is the $58,000,” Roy said.

Tuesday’s meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. in the council chambers at The Center, with a presentation by Gorrill Palmer Planning Decisions Inc. on a study the firm conducted on the Spring, Water and Bridge street intersection. The city hired Gorrill Palmer to identify possible improvements that would make the intersectionsafer and more user-friendly for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. The public is welcome to ask questions and comment on the matter Tuesday, according to Roy.

Gorrill Palmer’s report cites four options for improvements — a roundabout, a signalized intersection with turning lanes, a signalized intersection with reduced turning lanes, and a circular intersection.

The council also will discuss whether to maintain the current schedule of curbside recycling pickup, which bnow occurs on the first and third full week of the month on residents’ trash pickup days, or go to every other week.

“Ultimately, it’s definitely the council that has the authority to make that decision,” Roy said. “Initially, it’s an administrative call, I think; but any decisions we make on that is subject to council review and approval.”

The recycling discussion will occur during Roy’s manager’s report, which falls last on the agenda. If councilors make it clear they want recycling pickup every other week, that is what the city will do, and councilors do not need to vote on the matter, Roy said.

The council also will consider transferring $96,353 from the city’s landfill reserve account to the capital improvement reserve account, to be used for three projects: energy-efficiency improvements at City Hall and the Waterville Opera House, which would cost $25,000; completion of renovations to the basement of City Hall, also for $25,000; and removal of the radio tower on City Hall, putting a new one at the police station and relocating police base radios from City Hall to the police station, as they are connected to the tower.

That $105,000 project is important because a cable runs from City Hall to the police station, and if an accident knocked a pole and cable down, communications would cease, according to Roy.

Amy Calder — 861-9247

acalder@centralmaine.com

Twitter: @AmyCalder17

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