Lewiston council to act on school budget

LEWISTON — Budget season is nearing its end in Lewiston.

The City Council is poised to adopt the fiscal 2017-18 school budget Tuesday, while at the same time hosting its final public hearing on the proposed municipal budget.

The vote on the school budget comes just a week before the school budget validation referendum in Lewiston, which is scheduled for Tuesday, May 9.

Councilors received an official look at the proposed $73.6 million school budget on April 18, where Superintendent Bill Webster said the budget had been crafted with some uncertainty at the state level.

The City Council and School Committee had previously convened joint workshops to discuss the budget details.

Webster told city officials that the district could possibly receive additional state funding, depending on the final approved state budget.

However, according to city charter, May 30 is the last day that officials can adopt a budget, which meant the budget couldn’t wait for the state to catch up.

Also occurring Tuesday are public hearings on the municipal and Community Development Block Grant budgets. It is the final time that members of the public can comment on the municipal budget.

As of now, the city budget stands at $44.88 million, but City Administrator Ed Barrett said that is also subject to change.

He said the current figures would see the property tax rate increase by 45 cents, a 1.6 percent increase. But, he said, if the state approves its proposed increase of the Homestead Exemption, most taxpayers in Lewiston would see a small tax bill decrease.

“It’s difficult to get the message out to people when things are still up in the air,”
Barrett said Friday.

They’ll take action Tuesday on the utility and special revenue funds, authorize about $2.3 million for one-time capital purchases, and authorize city funding for nonprofit organizations in Lewiston.

The City Council won’t vote on the general fund until May 9.