OLD TOWN – After months of work, the council unanimously approved on Monday the final city and school budgets.

The overall budget calls for total city expenditures of $7.5 million and total school spending of $13.3 million. Assuming there are no changes in property valuation, the city’s tax rate is expected to stay level with last year’s.

“I think that it’s a good budget, it’s a workable budget,” City Manager Peggy Daigle said.

After adding about $500,000 for county taxes, the total budget rings in at an estimated $21.3 million. Total revenues are expected at $11.6 million, and the net property tax requirement is about $9.7 million.

“As city manager I believe that this budget will provide the necessary resources to address current service needs and the capital needs of the community and its residents at a tax rate that is stable,” Daigle said in a prepared statement.

The council previously told the city manager to create a budget that would mean no increase to taxpayers, but some are concerned that there is no decrease to taxpayers.

“I would have liked to see the tax bills go out this year with a reduction,” Councilor Alan Stormann said.

The city’s tax rate is $24.60 per $1,000 of valuation, and cuts were made on both the school and municipal side to keep that number flat.

The Legislature voted in January to increase the so-called homestead exemption for homeowners, but reduced the reimbursement from the state to the towns to 50 percent.

It also changed funding methods for municipalities, limiting what can be raised through taxes.

“We have heard the pleas for tax relief from the citizens and have been and will continue to be responsive,” Daigle said.

The city has cut more than $150,000 from its budget by eliminating two assistant fire chief positions, moving operation responsibilities for the city’s transfer station from a private company to the municipality, and restructuring the Parks and Recreation Department.

In addition, the school department has decreased its budget by about $175,000 in staff, plus made other reductions, Superintendent Matt Oliver said previously.

“The important thing is that we’re all working together for the same cause,” council Chairman Gary Sirois said. “It’s not this team [or] that team. We’re all a team together.”