BREWER – No one from the public spoke during the city’s budget hearing on Tuesday, and in contrast city councilors couldn’t stop thanking city officials for their hard work in reducing the tax rate by more than a dollar.

After each councilor commented, they wholeheartedly adopted the $30.2 million budget for 2006-07.

“This is the fifth budget that I’ve looked at and I’m amazed,” Councilor Mike Celli said. “To see [the tax rate] come down $1.16 is absolutely phenomenal.”

The new budget reduces the current tax rate from $20.06 to $18.90 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

“This is the lowest Brewer’s tax rate has been in over 40 years,” City Manager Steve Bost said.

The consolidated city budget includes $10.9 million for municipal services, nearly $15.8 million for the school department and $667,067 for the Penobscot County assessment. More than $2.24 million in capital improvements for the city and $172,130 in tax overlay also are included.

Bost said capital improvement projects include a new road off Parkway South on the former Shurtleff Property, with part being paid with grant funding; replacing the Brewer Auditorium roof; and other road improvements.

Councilor Larry Doughty asked several questions about the city’s reserve accounts; a request for funds for a fire command vehicle, which was pushed off to next year; and how the city was able to help the school department pay for architectural designs for a proposed new school.

Finance Director Karen Fussell quickly answered his questions, and Doughty ended by saying, “We should all be so proud.”

Councilor Joseph Ferris then asked what made up the majority of the 6.3 percent increase in the overall budget.

“There is a variety of factors that drives that, most notably is the energy increase,” Fussell said, then listed several examples from the budget.

Mayor Gail Kelly ended the half-hour budget hearing by saying: “You made it one we can all be proud of. I commend you all.”

During the meeting, the board also:

. Approved the $2.6 million Water Department budget, which maintains the current rate, and the $2.4 million sewer budget, which contains the water pollution control facility and includes a 2.93 percent sewer rate increase. The new rate increases the cost of 100 cubic feet by 19 cents from $6.39 to $6.58.

. Hired Marcel Payeur Inc. to paint the Levenseller Road standpipe in Holden for $107,000, and awarded a three-year towing contract to Central Maine Towing Inc., known locally as Union Street Towing, with the company paying the city $6,706 annually.

. Agreed to purchase a 2006 Ford Econoline E-350 12-passenger van from Darling’s Ford for $20,164 for the Parks and Recreation Department, with the funds coming from the 2007-08 capital improvement budget.

. Authorized an agreement with the Brewer High School trustees for financial assistance with preliminary planning and design work for a planned new school, not to exceed $426,440. The trustees have agreed to repay the city in full with interest once the school construction referendum receives residential approval, expected in the fall of 2007.

. Changed the July meeting date to July 25.