BATH
The city council will hear what the public has to say about the proposed $15.2 million city budget for 2014-15 during a hearing scheduled to start at 6 p.m. tonight in the City Hall auditorium.
That $15,252,737 budget represents a 1.4 percent, or $253,579, tax increase. Combined with proposed increases in county and school budgets, Bath taxpayers could be facing a 3.1 percent increase — $0.61 per $1,000 of assessed value — in taxes next fiscal year.
According to numbers provided by the city finance office, the proposed Sagadahoc County budget would increase Bath’s portion of taxes by $25,890 or 0.14 percent; and the proposed Regional School Unit 1 would assess Bath an estimated $263,495 in additional taxes, which is a 1.45 percent increase.
Bath’s current tax rate is $19.64 per $1,000 of assessed value. Subject to adoption of the county and school budget and changes in the city’s total valuation, property owners could see a tax rate of $8.51 per $1,000 of assessed value as a result of the city budget; a $9.92 per $1,000 as a result of the RSU 1 budget and $1.82 per $1,000 due to the county budget. Combined, these budgets would hike Bath’s tax rate to an estimated $20.25 per $1,000 — from $3,928 to $4,050 for a property assessed at $200,000.
The budget overview prepared by the finance department states notes that operating costs continue to increase while non-tax revenues have remained fairly flat. While vehicle excise taxes are increasing $83,000, revenue sharing to the city is decreasing $42,000.
The council Wednesday also will consider first approval of a bond for up to $675,000 and for up to 11 years. The bond would fund equipment and facility improvements including an ambulance and defibrillator for the fire department, a police vehicle, new boiler, tractor, bucket truck and chipper, mower, crew crab, sidewalk sander and snow blower, and a skidsteer, scale deck and bulldozer for the landfill. The council will be expected to vote an approval of the budget and grant second passage to the bond at its June meeting.
A proposed contract zoning district is proposed to accommodate a new Residence Inn hotel by Marriott at 139 Richardson St., a project that involves demolition of the former Holiday Inn hotel now renamed the Bath Shipyard Inn. The council tonight will consider granting first passage on the proposed land use code amendment.
The council tonight will also address the following agenda items:
— Prepare and post notice of the election for the state primary election and the warrant for the Regional School Unite 1 budget validation referendum both to be held June 10, as well as to appoint the warden and ward clerk for the primary election and set voting hours.
— First passage of the firefighters’ contract.
— First passage of a $545,000 supplemental appropriation from the general fund undesignated fund balance, to be set aside for unanticipated expenditures.
dmoore@timesrecord.com
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