LEWISTON — Funding for the Twin Cities’ bus system is pretty secure, city councilors said Tuesday, but sign-carrying supporters spoke up, anyway.

Members of the Visible Community and a handful of bus riders attended the City Council’s review of agency funding Tuesday night, urging councilors to continue their support for bus service.

The bus system began running limited Saturday service last year, and it’s been a success, said Phil Nadeau, chairman of the Lewiston-Auburn Transit Committee. This year, the group is asking for an additional $71,636 — $35,818 from each city.

But the committee also presented a more expensive option, offering full Saturday service for an additional $31,000 from each city.

Councilors said they were not sure about the more expensive option and would have to discuss it further. But the less expensive budget request isn’t in doubt from Lewiston, Councilor John Butler said.

“Nobody is saying we need to cut this budget — not this group, anyway,” Butler said. “So worst-case scenario, you get the current budget. Best case, you get expanded.”

Council President Stephen Morgan agreed.

“I remember all the questions and concerns people had about the bus service last year, and I’ve heard nothing but good things since then,” Morgan said.

Councilors are scheduled to continue their budget discussions Thursday, reviewing police, fire and parking budgets.

The city’s draft budget calls for a $487,000 increase in spending, combined with a $692,000 reduction in non-property tax revenues. Combined, the city side of the proposed budget would have to raise an additional $1.2 million from property taxes. School officials are asking for no additional property taxes, meaning taxpayers are facing an increase of 84 cents per $1,000 of value in the property tax rate. That’s about $122 more for a $145,000 home.

On Tuesday, councilors also heard from the Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport, Great Falls TV, L/A Arts, L-A 911, the Androscoggin County Emergency Management Agency and the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council.

Those groups gave similar presentations to Auburn councilors Monday.

Taken together, the groups are asking for $1.6 million from Lewiston, an increase of $53,179 over the current budget.

Lewiston-Auburn 911, the dispatch service for the Twin Cities police, fire and ambulance services, is proposing to hire a second computer technician. Executive Director Phyllis Gamache-Jensen said the center has one person who manages all of their servers and computers. Losing that person to illness would cripple the 911 Center, she said. She’s asking for $50,000 more from each city.

Other agencies, including L/A Arts and the growth council, asked for no increases. The Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport is asking for $32,500 less from each city in the operating budget but for $250,000 in capital money to build a new terminal.

Councilors did say they were frustrated by not being able to meet with their Auburn counterparts to discuss the shared budgets. Auburn’s council canceled the usual combined meeting this year, saying it would be more efficient to work separately.

“I understand some of that,” Councilor Renee Bernier said. “There is a sense that nothing gets done. We should try to come to some sort of a decision if we meet together next year.”

Lewiston councilors said they would try to reach some consensus on the shared budgets during their Thursday meeting, if they have time.

staylor@sunjournal.com

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