ROCKLAND, Maine — The Rockland City Council made swift work Wednesday evening in giving unanimous approval to a 2015-2016 municipal budget that would not require any additional property taxes.
The budget, however, cuts several positions, including ones that would end the city-run Recreation Department.
Councilor Larry Pritchett said councilors want to see an improvement in the recreation programs as it transitions to possibly being run by the Penobscot Bay YMCA. He said the council understands the attachment the public has to the recreation center facilities.
After the meeting, Pritchett said he expects that while the YMCA may manage programs, he does not expect a long-term lease for the building as was offered. The council voted Wednesday evening to add $95,000 back into the recreation budget to allow more options for the management of the facility. Negotiations have yet to start.
Councilor Valli Geiger said the cuts throughout the budget were necessary to help prevent a significant increase that makes it difficult for people to pay their property taxes.
Councilor Louise MacLellan-Ruf said it was unfortunate there was a small group of citizens who came to the meetings and were unhappy with the budget.
“I can tell you that there are a lot more people who are happy,” she said.
While there would be no property tax increase because of the municipal budget for the third year in a row, an increase is likely because of the city’s share of the Regional School Unit 13 budget.
The RSU 13 budget was rejected at the polls June 9, and the board is planning on looking to develop a revised package that would go back to residents with a districtwide meeting on July 23 and a referendum on Aug. 18.
A person owning a $150,000 home in Rockland would pay $240 more in taxes for the upcoming year if the school budget is not changed.
The general municipal budget was approved at $10.9 million.
The transfer station budget was approved at $1,589,000, the sewer treatment plant budget at nearly $4 million and the emergency medical services budget at $612,000. Those budgets are financed by user fees.
The largest account in the budget is the police department at $1,930,000. The public works budget will be $1.6 million, the fire department budget at $1,559,000, lights and hydrants at $618,000, library at $520,000, recreation at $246,000, and harbor and waterfront at $186,000.
The budget will not fill a vacant police patrol officer position and also will not fill, for a second straight year, the fire chief position. Assistant Chief Adam Miceli is filling in on an extended interim basis.
The budget also will result in the elimination of Sunday hours at the library.
At the Wednesday night meeting, the council also approved contracts with two outside commercial hauling companies to allow them to dispose of demolition debris in the city landfill quarry. The proposed contracts are with Troiano Waste Services Inc. of South Portland and Jeffrey A. Simpson Inc. of Sanford.
Former Councilor Adele Grossman Faber criticized the contracts, saying the city was giving away its quarry landfill space and that, when that is filled, the city will have to pay a lot more money.