WATERVILLE — The City Council is scheduled Tuesday to consider a final vote on the proposed $56.34 million municipal and school budget for 2023-24, and vote on leasing a new venue for council meetings.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. at The Elm at 21 College Ave.
The council took a first vote June 6 on the budget, which requires two votes. Increases in the municipal budget are reflected in wages; fuel, gas, electricity and supplies caused by inflation; and hikes in salaries for nonunion employees.
An increase in police command and patrol officer salaries is about $450,000, and the council had approved that pay increase as part of union contracts. The increase for nonunion employees is about $140,000.
Councilors on June 6 considered a combined $58.48 million municipal and school budget, including a $28.2 million municipal budget, but acting City Manager Bill Post recommended cutting $397,986 from the total.
Cuts would come from delaying the starting dates for some new positions, eliminating a professional services contract in the finance department, eliminating an equipment operator position, eliminating all capital expenses and moving them to a bond, and increasing by $575,780 the estimated revenues aside from property taxes.
The budget approved last year totaled $53.2 million. Before adjustments were made the week of June 6, the budget would have represented an increase of $5.2 million, but the council is now looking at a $4.8 million increase.
The proposed $30.27 million school budget reflects a $1.8 million increase from the $28.4 million budget approved last year, with spending increases reflected in salaries and benefits, motor fuel, fuel oil, electricity and liability insurance.
The Waterville Board of Education voted May 8 to approve the budget, but will take another vote after the council finalizes its vote.
The change to Waterville’s property tax rate of $25.85 per $1,000 in assessed valuation will not likely be known until the middle of August because the city will undergo a statistical revaluation that must be completed before the tax rate is set, according to Post.
He explained earlier this month that such a valuation is not the same as a regular one because the city assessor will not go to individual homes. The valuation is based on using data the city has and updates based on market values.
Post said that as part of the 2022-23 budget, the city used $558,000 of one-time revenue, some of which was from federal American Rescue Plan Act money and some from capital surplus, so the city does not have that money to use this year. The city is proposing additional positions, most of which were requested last year, but were cut. The positions include an executive assistant for the human resources department, which has had only one employee for years; an administrative position for the airport, who would help market the airport to generate more revenue; and a community development officer, who would focus on creating a housing plan for the city, working with public and private developers and nonprofits to increase housing, and work on grants and future programs.
The annual budget covers July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. The plan includes a request to spend $100,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to renovate space for the new council chambers. The council Tuesday is scheduled to vote on leasing a space at 46 Front St./18 Temple St. for five years for that purpose from 46 Front Street LLC of Scarborough.
The building was the site of the Social Security Administration and before that home to Waterville District Court. People’s Hair Salon is located in part of the building.
According to the proposed lease agreement, the city would pay a monthly rent of $3,000 for the first few months. The amount would gradually increase, topping out at about $6,700 a month toward the end of the contract.
The city would have use of 22 parking spaces at the property.
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