By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

AUBURN – Wages, capital investment and health insurance continue to drive Auburn’s budget, according to City Manager Pat Finnigan.

Finnigan presented her draft $30.5 million budget to councilors Tuesday. Councilors will continue working on the budget tonight, when they meet with their Lewiston counterparts. The two city councils will consider budgets for the Auburn Lewiston Municipal Airport, L-A Arts, county 911 and emergency management and the Lewiston Auburn Transit Committee.

Councilors will continue budget hearings next Monday, reviewing the spending plans for individual departments.

Finnigan’s budget calls for $1.5 million more than councilors approved for the current budget. That’s a 5.2 percent increase, she said.

Wages account for about $400,000 of that increase and health insurance and benefits another $300,000. Capital investment – in city roads, sewers and buildings – accounts for $350,000.

“Those are the normal drivers, the same things that push the budget every year,” Finnigan said.

This year, she added two new budget drivers: $70,000 more for fuel for the city’s fleet of firetrucks, police cars, public works trucks and other vehicles, and $50,000 for road salt.