SANFORD, Maine — City Councilor Victor DiGregorio is advising people to vote against Sanford’s budget in the upcoming primary, and is putting up signs across the city to support a “no” vote.
“I strongly believe, 101 percent, that the tax rate should be held,” said DiGregorio Tuesday morning. “I feel strongly we can do without a tax increase.”
But city leaders say they are holding the line, and that the 2.44 percent tax increase in the proposed budget is far less than the 5 to 10 percent increases that were imposed a few years ago.
Sanford voters go to the polls on Tuesday, where they will decide whether to validate the City Council’s approved combined $63 million school and municipal budget. Passage is projected to increase the tax rate by 71 cents, to $22.75.
Mayor Tom Cote said DiGregorio’s stance is up to him.
“Councilor DiGregorio’s signs and his positions are certainly his prerogative, but I haven’t heard any ideas from him regarding how to achieve his proposed zero percent increase,” said Cote in a written statement. “In reality, it has been the reverse. He claims he wants all services offered by the city to be free, but hasn’t offered any input on how the services would be funded.”
Cote later pointed out that back in 2012, DiGregorio, who was a member of Sanford’s budget panel at the time, voted in favor of a budget that produced a 10 percent tax increase that year.
DiGregorio is no stranger to ruffling feathers on the City Council. He was recently stripped of a council subcommittee assignment in connection with alleged belligerent behavior toward a city department head.
In an unrelated matter, DiGregorio pleaded innocent in April to six counts of falsifying information in a bid for Clean Elections funding in connection with his failed November 2015 campaign for election to Maine House District 19.
City Manager Steve Buck said that even though the tax rate is projected to increase, those with homes valued at $160,000 or less who have applied for the homestead exemption will see no increase at all, and may see a modest decrease.
Cote said figures provided by Buck show that in the last three budget proposals, the total tax increase on a $160,000 home has been $71, while the increase in the two years prior was much more — $345 for a home with the same value.
“So the idea that the budget is out of control or frivolous is unfounded,” said Cote. “I would suggest it is the reverse, as we are trying to ratchet back increases and spending policies of previous administrations.”
DiGregorio said a new assistant city manager position, which the city plans to begin funding six months into the fiscal year, is a bad idea. And while he said he admires Buck’s work, he doesn’t believe he needs an assistant.
While the assistant manager’s main task will be to look at Sanford’s aging and dilapidated multi-family dwellings, DiGregorio believes that should be dealt with elsewhere.
“Why not shake up the Sanford Housing Authority?” he asked.
DiGregorio said he also has questions on airport funding, and believes revenue from the pending sale of Emerson School should be used to offset the tax rate.
Buck said budgets have increased the last few years to support the city charter’s mandated hikes in the capital improvement plan. Special education enrollment is growing, adding to education costs.
He said the state funds revenue sharing at 2.5 percent, rather than 5 percent, which means Sanford has lost $1.5 million, and that Sanford is underspending LD 1 tax cap limits by $893,000.
Cote and DiGregorio both voted against the budget at the council level; Cote said he preferred a smaller increase, but a zero percent would have resulted in layoffs and reduced services.
“I do hope this budget passes so we can continue to put our attention on the root of Sanford’s tax issue, which is our housing situation,” said Cote. “Until we address the undervalued and dilapidated multi-family apartment buildings, we will continue to have this ongoing tax burden concern.”