$1 increase in Brewer budget lauded as `commendable job’

Brewer residents should have received their 1990-91 property tax bills by now — they were mailed Monday. Sewer bills, which include a rate increase approved by the City Council, will be sent out Friday, Aug. 31.

Tax bills must be paid on Sept. 25 and March 12, 1991. The interest rate on overdue taxes is 12 percent annually.

According to town officials, this year’s budget totaled $6.6 million, about $400,000 more than last year’s expenditures. The assessed valuation comes in at $238 million, an increase of about $6 million over last year’s figure. This year’s valuation represents about 70 percent of the full market value.

The tax rate is $28.15 per $1,000 valuation. Though that figure is only a 3.7 percent increase — or $1 — over last year’s rate, Brewer has the third-highest full-value tax rate among Maine municipalities, trailing only Calais and Presque Isle.

Municipal expenditures contributed 39 cents to the $1 increase, while the school board claimed 54 cents and county taxes seven cents, according to Councilor Larry Doughty.

Chairman Ronald Harriman said this year’s budget was not a “bare-bones budget,” and not as many sacrifices regarding programs and services had been made, as in years past.

Councilor Gerald Robertson noted that the City Council and the city manager did a commendable job in holding the increase that amounts to 1 mill, or less than 4 percent. To absorb a significant loss in state revenue, accommodate for additional school spending, and give the city departments the equipment they want — and keep the tax rate increase at such a low figure — is truly an accomplishment, he added.

“It isn’t a budget that’s going to give us what we want, but the budget is going to give the taxpayers what they feel they can afford,” the councilor said.

Officials attributed the budget increases to the city’s compliance with Department of Environmental Protection regulations such as storm-water separation projects and closure of the landfill. In addition, money was budgeted for public works activities such as the paving of roads, and $75,000 set aside for a possible contract with Penobscot Energy Recovery Co. in Orrington.

Meanwhile, Brewer residents can expect to see a 20 percent increase in their sewer bills over the next two years. In September rates will increase 10 percent; in March they rise another 10 percent.

These increases, officials said, are caused by improvements to the waste-water treatment plant and the storm-water separation project. One councilor noted that DEP requirements such as these would only increase, as will the cost of complying with these mandates.