AUGUSTA — City councilors have endorsed an $80 million city and school budget that will increase property taxes by 4.7%, following an error-filled and sometimes contentious budget process.

For the owner of an average-valued $129,400 house in Augusta, the budget is expected to result in a tax bill of $2,970, an increase of $134.

The budget was approved in a 6-2 vote Thursday, with councilors voting in favor of it describing it as a compromise budget that provides essential city services and maintains quality schools important to draw new residents and families to Augusta while limiting the impact on taxpayers.

The budget as first proposed by City Manager Susan Robertson would have raised taxes 9.3%.

“I think this is a really great budget for a really great city and school system,” said Ward 1 Councilor Linda Conti. “It’s one of the lowest tax increases of any of the communities around us, and we’re getting good schools, and a fully-funded fire department and rescue department that will show up when you call. I’m not getting everything I wanted, but that’s the reality of life in politics. That means it’s not too much; it’s not quite enough. But it’s good, it’s very good.”

Ward 2 Councilor Kevin Judkins, who with Ward 3’s Michael Michaud made up the two votes against the budget, said he has concerns about the integrity of the school budget figures passed onto councilors by the Augusta Board of Education. He said what he witnessed by watching recordings of school board meetings on the budget wasn’t consistent with what school leaders presented to city councilors following those meetings.

“I found a great deal of inconsistencies and it lead me to question the integrity of that data,” Judkins said of the school portion of the budget. “I think if I voted yes, I’d feel complicit in accepting that, and agreeing with that, and I can’t.”

The school board approved an amended version of the school budget, incorporating recent changes, Wednesday night, in a 6-1 vote. Board member Katie McCormick also expressed concerns about the reliability of the school budget figures.

Michaud acknowledged the 4.7% increase in taxes is a substantial improvement over the 9.3% increase first proposed but said the reduction primarily came from errors in calculations in the budget process, not from any real cuts to city or school spending.

The city’s property tax rate also increased last year by 4.7%, which was at the time the first hike in five years.

“I’m disappointed to say the least, 9.4% (combined tax increase) over the last two years is a lot to ask of our taxpayers,” Michaud said. “Especially because if we sharpened our pencils on both sides we could have gotten it down to 2 or 3%, which is still a lot but not as much as sits there now.”

At-Large Councilor Stephanie Sienkiewicz said there’s really nothing that could be cut from the budget without having a negative impact.

“The taxes we’re paying, while I hear it is hard to add to that bill, these taxes are going to services that make our community run, that are vital to the way we live in Augusta,” she said. “And as a parent of a kid going in to first grade, and another into pre-K, the schools here are a huge part of why my family chose to live here and pay property taxes in Augusta.”

Early in the budget process changes were made to address an $800,000 mistake in the school budget initially approved by the school board.

In Augusta, the Board of Education approves a budget that is then incorporated into the total city and school budget. The spending plan must then be approved by city councilors. However, councilors can — and often do — direct that cuts to be made. School officials then decide what changes to make to get to the bottom line sought by councilors.

The school portion of the budget must also be approved by voters in a citywide referendum as part of a June 13 election.

The budget includes plans to add firefighter/paramedics to address an ongoing staff shortage as the number of fire and rescue calls continues to escalate. It also includes the addition of two new code enforcement officers and an administrative assistant, whose salaries and benefits could be covered by fees collected from landlords as part of a proposed new rental housing inspection program.

But it does not include a third new code enforcement officer city staff have said is needed, nor four additional firefighter/paramedic positions or a second deputy chief’s position sought by public safety leaders, and leaves a vacant police officer position unfunded.

Copy the Story Link

« Previous

Richmond voters to decide $2.9 million municipal budget at Town Meeting

Next »

Jay board accepts bids for road salt, paving