ROCKLAND, Maine — Knox County communities would pay 6 percent more in property taxes and fees to county government under the initial proposed budget released last week.
The Knox County Commissioners and Knox County Budget Committee are scheduled to hold a public hearing Thursday afternoon on the $10.2 million budget proposal.
Camden, with the largest property assessment in Knox County, would see the biggest increase in payments to the county. The town would pay $1,348,000 in 2016 — $97,000 more than in 2015 — if the currently proposed budget is approved as drafted.
Rockport and Rockland pay the next largest share of the county budget. Rockport would see its payments increase $76,000 to $1.1 million. Rockland would pay an additional $52,000, reaching $972,000.
The largest proposed increase in the county budget is for maintenance of the courthouse, which would rise $156,000 to reach $452,000.
The largest account in the county budget is for the county jail with $3,746,695 proposed. The sheriff’s patrol budget is proposed at $2,017,989. Both are up 3 percent.
The communications budget is proposed at $1,074,828. The airport budget comes in at $578,058. The airport budget is offset by $471,000 in user fees.
The commissioners and budget committee are scheduled to review the budget during November and a final public hearing and final votes by the boards are scheduled for Dec. 17.