ROCKLAND, Maine — A week into the new budget year, and Rockland City Council is scheduled to take a formal vote Wednesday evening on the nearly $12.3 million municipal spending plan for 2016-2017.
The only significant question remaining for the councilors will be whether to include money for a full-time staff attorney.
The council had scheduled to give its final approval last week to the budget but postponed it for a week after Councilor Valli Geiger said she had questions concerning the wastewater treatment budget. That $4,246,940 budget is separate from the general municipal budget and is paid for largely through sewer fees.
Sewer rates are proposed to increase 3 percent.
If approved, the municipal budget, coupled with the amount of money needed to pay for school and county operations, would increase the city’s property tax rate by less than 64 cents per $1,000 of assessed property.
The main unanswered question is whether the council will include money in the 2016-2017 budget for a full-time attorney. Last week, city attorney Kevin Beal submitted his resignation, effective Sept. 30. The severance agreement, accepted that night by the council, calls for him to be paid through Dec. 30.
Councilor Adam Ackor had proposed adding money for the full-time position, but Geiger, who previously voiced support for the post, said Beal’s resignation gives the community an opportunity to consider whether a full-time city attorney is the way to go. The council also wants to include money for planning services.
The budget is proposed at $12,269,857, with the largest account being public services at nearly $3.1 million. This is nearly the same amount as last year.
The $2,061,000 police department budget is up from $1.93 million.
The general government accounts are at about $2 million total, up from $1.9 million.
The combined fire and emergency medical services department is $1,882,000 million, up from about $1,846,000.
Debt service is $1 million, down from $1.3 million.