WATERVILLE — After adding another two positions to the municipal payroll, the Waterville City Council gave initial approval Tuesday night to the proposed city and school budget for 2021-22.

Councilors voted 6-1 following a first read of the proposed spending plan, with Councilor Rick Foss, R-Ward 5, casting the dissenting vote.

The council last week declared an emergency and authorized spending to keep the city operating after the end of the city’s fiscal year. At the time, councilors did not know how much revenue sharing the city should expect from the state, and chose to wait for that information before acting on the proposed $46.6 million spending plan.

The proposed budget represents a $2.2 million increase to current spending.

The property tax rate is not expected to change, according to city officials. The current rate is $25.76 per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The City Council still does not have all the final numbers for the budget. The school department has been unable to present final numbers as it waits for the final subsidies from the state, according to City Manager Steve Daly.

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Throughout the budgeting process, the City Council had considered adding a number of new positions, but prior to Tuesday night’s meeting, the budget only included three new EMT positions.

Councilors voted Tuesday night to add a code enforcement officer and increase the part-time city planner’s position to full-time.

Councilor Rebecca Green, D-Ward 4, offered the amendment to add another code enforcement officer, a move with which other councilors agreed, saying difficulty reaching code enforcement is a common complaint from residents, and the current code enforcement officer is overworked.

“I think we have the opportunity here to provide him with another person and alleviate a lot of that,” said Councilor Mike Morris, D-Ward 1. “I’m definitely in favor of adding this code enforcement position.”

The position will be funded for a full year at a cost of $93,000. The amendment passed unanimously.

“This is probably the number-one complaint that I’ve heard from people over the years is our lack of adequate code enforcement,” said Council Chairman Erik Thomas, D-Ward 7. “Sometimes, we’re penny wise and pound foolish, and when we let properties deteriorate by not properly enforcing codes, it ends up costing us tax revenue in the long run.”

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Green also offered the amendment to move the city planner’s position to full time. Daly said it is rare today for communities to have a part-time planner, and Thomas pointed out it would be difficult to fill the part-time role in the future.

“It’s pretty unusual to have a part-time planner,” Thomas said, “and I highly doubt the next person we have in that position would be part-time, anyway.”

The change added $65,000 to the budget, and the council voted 6-1 to approve it, with Foss opposing.

There was also discussion of funding the cost to address the browntail moth and caterpillar problem in the area. Daly said $5,000 was allocated in the budget for the issue.

Councilor Thomas Klepach, D-Ward 3, said he wanted to see more money allocated to deal with the problem. He said he had done extensive research on the issue, including how the problem is best addressed over the winter. He also said he had rough cost estimates for dealing with browntail moths and their caterpillars.

“I’m telling you what: It is going to be really nasty next year if we don’t take this problem,” Klepach said. “We are going to have a real world of pain, and we’re going to pay for it one way or another.”

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As the meeting approached the three-hour mark, Councilor Claude Francke, D-Ward 6, suggested Klepach send out the information he had gathered so councilors could review it before their next meeting, when the issue could be further discussed.

Foss offered an amendment to reduce the property tax rate since there was a slight surplus in the budget.

Thomas cautioned against the idea, saying he would rather have the city save the money and use it to reduce taxes after the upcoming revaluation because residents could see property tax increases.

“So lowering taxes now to know that most people’s bills are gonna go up next year — I’m not sure that is the wisest course of action,” Thomas said. “I would be more inclined to say we should bank that money, and hold it in a fund to offset the effects of the revaluation.”

Foss said a lower property tax rate is key if the city wants to attract more residents and businesses, and in his time on the council, he has seen the tax rate increase each year.

“At some point, we either have to put the brakes on our own spending, which I’ve said time and time again, or we need to figure out what we’re doing wrong,” Foss said.

The amendment failed in a 5-2 vote, with Foss and Francke voting in favor of it.

City councilors must still take a second-and-final vote on the proposed budget. They are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 20.

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