BANGOR, Maine — The Penobscot County budget committee Tuesday night unanimously passed the more than $16.03 million budget proposed by county commissioners for 2014.
The 2014 budget increased by $32,046 over this year’s budget, according to figures provided to committee members. That results in a 2.56 percent increase in the county tax rate, County Administrator Bill Collins said.
The mill rate is expected to be set next month at about $1.26 per $1,000 of valuation, provided the valuation estimates, which are set by the state, do not change.
The approved budget, which generated few question and no controversy at Tuesday night’s meeting, includes $9.547 million in operating expenses, $564,000 for capital improvements and $5.9 million toward operation of the Penobscot County Jail. The county will raise nearly $13.1 million from the municipalities and Unorganized Territory in taxes. More than $2.9 million is to be raised in revenue from other sources including the Registries of Deeds and Probate and the rental of office space.
The budget also includes a $27,000 outlay for an aerial mapping project to be funded by the state, counties and municipalities. The county will pay a total of $80,000 over the next three years toward the project.