CARIBOU, Maine — City councilors have set the 2015 mill rate at $22.46 per $1,000 of property value, which is up from the current $22.30.
The increase is “solely because of the school district,” City Manager Austin Bleess told councilors during their regular meeting on June 22. “Taxation on the city level is flat, and county [appropriations] went down a little bit by about $8,000 and the school went up $68,662.”
Regional School Unit 39’s budget was approved by citizens on June 9, and totals $17,984,702.
The municipal budget for 2015 was voted on in early December without a tax increase. The overall spending package totals $8,885,867.
Also during Monday’s council meeting, Caribou Secession Committee member Milo Haney made an appearance to request a special meeting with city officials to discuss possible ways to avoid secession.
In an interview after the meeting, secession committee spokesman Paul Camping highlighted a few ways that can happen, such as changing the city charter.
“There are three provisions in the charter we object to, one being that the charter prohibits citizens from petitioning their government if it has anything to do with the budget, salaries or the levy of taxes,” he said.
Camping also pointed out how the community could return to a board of selectmen format of municipal government.
“The city council form is inappropriate for rural residents,” he said, suggesting the city re-incorporate as a town.
Both Haney and the councilors agreed to sit down at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at council chambers to discuss concerns and ways the city can avoid splitting in two.
The full report created by the secession committee is on the city’s website cariboumaine.org.