AUBURN – A 5 percent school budget might not be allowed to stand, some councilors said Monday night.

Councilors took copies of the city manager’s proposed 2008 budget Monday night. It calls for $65.9 million in total city spending including city, county taxes and school budgets. That’s a $2.7 million increase compared to the current budget.

While the municipal services budget, which covers police, fire, public works and general government, came in with a proposed 2.89 percent increase, Auburn’s school committee is recommending a 5 percent budget increase.

Brian Demers of 1085 Riverside St. urged councilors to send that budget back to the School Committee.

“Somehow, they’ve become some kind of autonomous agency that does not answer to the public,” Demers said. “I demand that they answer to my council.”

Councilor Dick Gleason said the Auburn councilors have little say over the school budget. All they can do is approve a bottom line, and require the schools to live in that. Demers said that’s what he wanted.

“That, you might expect to happen,” Gleason said.

Councilors begin going over the budget at 5:15 p.m. tonight at Auburn Hall. They meet Wednesday and again Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. The first public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 21.

They’re scheduled to wrap up their work and adopt a final budget by June 11.

It’s the things they can’t control that look to push up property taxes. Auburn’s share of taxes due to Androscoggin County amount $1.88 million for the coming fiscal year. That’s a 10.5 percent increase, $178,027 more than the 2006-07 fiscal year.

Finnigan said there were a handful of spending increases within the city’s budget. They include wages, salaries and benefits, which increase $691,000 under this budget, joint services, capital spending, electricity and gravel and sand for road maintenance. All told, Finnigan said those budget drivers represent about $1.16 million in new spending.

“Yet, we’re proposing a municipal spending increase of $786,357,” Finnigan said. “Our budget increase is less than the new spending. That means that without those budget drivers, we’d be looking at a decrease.”

Councilor Eric Samson said he expected to see some nonmunicipal spending cut.

“I don’t think the city should have to bear the brunt of this burden,” Samson said.

The budget might not bring good news to residential taxpayers, even with cuts. A statewide plan to phase out property taxes on business equipment will shift the burden onto homes, according to City Assessor Cheryl Dubois. She expects to see $30 million in business property value because of the change. They city will make up most of that in new business and home development, but residential tax burden will increase.

Dubois is scheduled to release a final citywide revaluation in May.

Auburn budget

Proposed budget

$65.94 million

Change

$2.74 million increase

% Change

4.34% increase

Estimated tax impact

$1.42 million in new property collections.

What it means to you:

With assessed property values due at the end of May, the city doesn’t know how taxpayers will fare. However, with budget increases and looming property value shifts, residential property tax bills should go up again.

What’s next:

Councilors begin reviewing the budget at 5:15 p.m. tonight. They continue Wednesday night and Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. A public hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 21.