LEWISTON – City Administrator Jim Bennett’s budget didn’t include staff layoffs Tuesday night, but it did call for some cuts that are sure to be unpopular, including the end to annual spring cleanup and to neighborhood polling places.

Even with those cuts, Bennett’s proposed budget comes in $659,540 higher than last year’s budget. He gave councilors a second list with deeper cuts designed to trim another $252,500. Those cuts would do away with much of the city’s training and travel budget, streamline fleet maintenance, cut funding to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport and do away with the Lewiston Police Department’s parking ticket amnesty program.

“For years, we’ve forgiven the first parking ticket a person receives each year, and that costs us about $10,000,” Bennett said.

He also asked the city’s labor unions to help by forgoing raises and pay-step increases until February 2010 to save another $360,000.

“If all of those things happen, council, we could get through this tax year with no tax increase at all,” Bennett said. “People are afraid now of what’s going to happen, and I think it’s important for us to say that we get it, all around. We understand what they want, and if they’re willing to make some sacrifices with us, it’s relatively easy to get there.”

Councilors praised the city staff’s work as they took copies of the budget books. They’ll spend the next 14 weeks reviewing them. They’re scheduled to adopt a final budget in May.

They warned residents that there is plenty left to do.

“Before anybody starts high-fiving that we’ve kept taxes from increasing, they need to understand what it means,” Councilor Robert Reed said. “This means no spring cleanup, and I think people are going to have a lot to say about that. Anything we say on the topic is liable to get us harpooned by some of our neighbors.”

Bennett’s budget also restructures city staff and reduces the number of department heads. The city would go from 14 departments to seven – Police, Fire, Economic Development, Public Works, Planning, Finance and Community Services.

All financial functions, including tax collection, assessing, purchasing and budgeting, would be under the Finance Department. Public Works and Public Services would be combined again and the city clerk’s office, library, Human Resources and Recreation departments would be combined under Community Services.

That would save the city another $450,000, about 25 cents on the tax rate. Those savings would depend on getting early retirements from several department heads. Bennett said he expected to have four negotiated by the time the budget is finished. But he had one for councilors Monday: Finance Director Dick Metivier.

According to the plan, Metivier’s title would change to deputy city administrator and he’d continue to draw his salary until he retires in a few months. Metivier would be paid from city surpluses until his retirement date.

Heather Hunter, the deputy finance director, would be promoted but without a raise. Her position would not be replaced.

Excise tax

Bennett’s budget does not address the excise tax issue on the November ballot. If it passes – and it has a good chance, Bennett said – it would require an additional $770,000 in budget cuts this year. Bennett said he’d try to make those cuts with other departmental restructuring, delaying capital projects until spring 2010. But it could also bring staff layoffs back into the mix.

“I’m not to going to say more about those layoffs, because I don’t see the point in making any other employees afraid,” Bennett said. “But that would mean cuts. It would mean fewer people out plowing roads and fewer police patrolling the streets.”

Lewiston budget

Proposed budget: $44.44 million

Change: $659,540 increase

Percent change: 1.51 percent increase

Estimated tax impact: $53.23 per year on an average home

What it means to you:

Spring cleanup: Annual trash collections would stop.

Packed polls: One polling place would serve all voters at future elections.

Layoffs: Staff reductions staved off for now, but several senior department heads would retire early, starting with Finance Director Dick Metivier. City departments – and department heads – would be cut from 14 to seven.

Other cuts: City can trim another $252,500 – 13 cents on the tax rate – by eliminating grace parking tickets, reducing street lights, cutting funding to the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, sharing some services with other towns and transferring revenue from other budget accounts.

Unions: Asking city labor unions to defer raises and cost-of-living increases until February 2010 would save $360,000.

Excise tax: November ballot issue to halve vehicle registration fee could bring layoffs – up to 30 positions – back into play. That would save $1.6 million.

What’s next: Budget workshop, 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 19.