BANGOR, Maine — The Bangor City Council will consider during a special-called meeting Monday adopting a $50.01 million city budget that, in conjunction with the school department’s $43.89 million budget, calls for a millage rate increase of about 17 cents.
If approved, the city’s mill rate would increase from $21.80 to about $21.97. For a property valued at $150,000, that’s a property tax increase of $25.50 and a total annual tax burden of $3,295.50.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen an increase like that,” Finance Director Debbie Cyr told the council in a special-called work session on Wednesday.
The proposed increase is well under the 50 cent increase initially submitted to the council in budgets proposed by City Manager Cathy Conlow and the Bangor School Committee.
The proposed budget is based on the $6.7 billion state budget approved by the Maine Legislature last week. However, Cyr urged caution when addressing the council, noting that the Legislature and governor are still taking action on the state budget.
“I don’t like to count the chickens before they hatch,” she said.
If the council fails to approve a budget by June 30, Conlow’s initial budget proposal will automatically go into effect. The city manager advised the council to approve their budget, saying they could revise it later if the Legislature makes any further changes.
The special-called council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday in council chambers on the third floor of City Hall.
During Wednesday’s work session, the council added in split decisions an estimated 2 cents to the mill rate, instructing Cyr add more than $20,787 in spending.
That includes $2,000 for repairs to the Orono Bog Boardwalk, a $12,787 funding increase for the Bangor Public Library, a $5,000 increase for the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau and $3,000 for trail maintenance to the Paul Bunyan Snowmobile Club.
Cyr said she would take the $2,000 for the Orono Bog Boardwalk from elsewhere in the budget so it would not add to city spending.
The council declined a request to give a $5,000 funding increase to the Bangor Commission on Cultural Development, voting 4-5 to leave its annual funding at $10,000.
Councilor Gibran Graham, who opposed the increase, argued that since the commission’s spending is ultimately approved by the City Council, adding to its funding was “basically saying we’re going to give ourselves more money to spend ourselves.”
Councilors Josh Plourde, Ben Sprague, Joe Baldacci and Sean Faircloth voted in favor of extra funding for the cultural commission.
The council also rejected a proposal from Councilor David Nealley to give an additional $12,000 to the Hammond Street Senior Center in order to maintain programing in the wake of an announcement that the center’s board of directors have decided to sell the property and relocate in Bangor.
“It may take some time to sell the building. They’re still challenged to maintain the same level of programs and operations that they have,” Nealley said.
That leaves the city’s funding for the senior center at $9,900.
Follow Evan Belanger on Twitter at @evanbelanger.