Proposed Brewer budget reduces tax rate again

BREWER – The city’s preliminary budget reduces the tax rate for the second year in a row, city officials said Friday after a draft was released to the public.

Not all homeowners will see a drop in their tax bills, however, City Manager Steve Bost stressed.

“While the mill rate has a rather significant reduction, it’s because of the property value adjustments” for this year, he said. “Not everyone will see a reduction in their tax bills.”

If the budget is approved, the tax rate will drop from $18.90 to $18.05 per $1,000 of assessed property value, a 4.5 percent decrease.

“This is the lowest Brewer’s tax rate has been in over four decades,” Finance Director Karen Fussell said in a memo to the city.

Homeowners whose properties were revalued last year will see lower tax bills, but those with homes revalued this year will see an increase.

The $28.7 million consolidated municipal budget for 2007-08 will be presented for approval at a City Council meeting 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 27, at City Hall. Residents may ask questions during the budget hearing.

The preliminary municipal budget is $11,318,543, an increase of $369,368, or 3.37 percent. The school department budget is $16,633,219, an increase of $839,415, or 5.31 percent. The Penobscot County assessment increased by $59,593 to $736,660, an 8.8 percent increase.

“The city budget increase … is roughly the rate of inflation,” Fussell said Friday. “Essentially, we’re maintaining a status quo budget.”

The proposed budget does include funds for a new firefighter and higher electric costs.

“By adding a 13th firefighter we can reduce overtime and on-call” expenses, Fussell said.

An additional firefighter also will allow the ambulance service to make more runs, which would increase revenues and provide enhanced service in town, she said.

The planned public safety building, set to be built on Parkway South at a cost not to exceed $6.5 million, has added a significant amount to the capital improvement program funds. However, the bonds, which will be issued in spring 2008, will not affect the tax rate this year.

There also are funds in the budget for the planned Brewer-Orrington business park and to move the library to the old School Street School property, located at 100 South Main St., last occupied by Sargent Tyler and West Insurance.

Copies of the draft budget are available for review at City Hall and the library. Copies also can be made for a small fee, Bost said. The budget must be completed by month’s end.