AUBURN — The City Council approved the first reading Monday of next year’s $86.7 million budget after two hours of discussion, but the work is far from over.

The budget resolution, marking a 2.9 percent tax increase for 2018-19, passed 5-2, but the council voted down $8.49 million in bonds for next year’s Capital Improvement Plan during first reading after multiple items were either amended or disputed. 

A few councilors, as well as members of the public, said Auburn’s budget process has been messy and marked with confusion ever since the city identified a $900,000 assessing error in May. 

“This budget has been such a mess over the last 30 days,” said Councilor Leroy Walker, who voted against the budget along with Councilor Belinda Gerry. “If you could follow it or keep track of it, you’d have to be a better person than I am.”  

The Capital Improvement Plan failed Monday by a vote of 4-3. It requires five affirmative votes to pass. The council will take up in a final reading June 18. 

The budget resolution will require a final reading as well, and voters will ultimately decide next year’s $43.6 million school budget during a referendum June 12. 

The proposed budget would add 69 cents to the property tax rate next year. The tax rate would rise to $23.68 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. A home valued at $150,000 would pay $104 more next year.  

No one spoke during a public hearing on the Capital Improvement Plan bonds, but councilors debated multiple items. 

A $100,000 study for outlet beach at Lake Auburn was removed from the plan, with the council directing staff to instead use $25,000 in strategic planning funds toward studying the swimming hole. 

The area has not been open to swimming since 2013 because of bacteria levels, but a study would look at how to remediate the bacteria. The council voted 5-2 to remove the funding from the plan. 

The council also reduced funding for Museum L-A from $25,000 to $15,000. The Lewiston City Council recently included $50,000 — the requested amount — for Museum L-A in its Capital Improvement Plan. 

Motions to reduce a Public Services item for a trailer and emergency signs from $14,000 to $5,000, and to reduce funding for a security camera at Pettengill Park, failed to gain enough votes. 

Throughout the meeting, there were many comments about the process used to arrive at the first reading, with many saying that much of the council’s discussion could have been handled in prior workshops. 

“We have to recognize staff time,” Mayor Jason Levesque said. “It’s hard to mess around with budgets at the 11th hour.” 

Gerry said Monday’s meeting was “the only time we’ve had for dialogue on the CIP.” 

“Yes, it’s our fault and the manager’s fault for not starting this process earlier, but we’re trying to craft a budget that works for not just for staff but for Auburn taxpayers too,” she said. 

Councilors Gerry, Walker and Alfreda Fournier were opposed to the CIP bonding.

The council voted 5-2 to approve spending roughly $240,000 in unallocated bond funds from last year. 

A second reading on all items is scheduled for Monday, June 18.

Councilor Andrew Titus, voting in favor of next year’s budget, said he was pleased to arrive at a tax levy increase of 0.99 percent, given the recent assessing error found. 

But he said all municipalities are in “a serious situation” regarding annual increases in salaries and benefits.

“How can we change that?” he asked.

Gerry urged residents to vote against the school budget, even though it came in at no increase in taxes. School expenses are up $1.9 million, but are offset by increased state subsidy.

She said the city budget, and the process used to arrive at the final numbers, is “a no-win proposition. Taxpayers deserve more.” 

City Manager Peter Crichton said the budget process was not easy with the assessing error, and that city departments did “a good job of going back and making reductions.” He said the city was fortunate to get support from the School Committee in reducing its initial budget and that reductions in both budgets avoided the need for any staff layoffs. 

Resident Joe Gray said he agreed with Councilor Walker on the recent budget process, calling it “ridiculous.” He also asked the city to not hire an acting assistant city manager to replace outgoing Assistant City Manager Denise Clavette.

Crichton had previously said that a number of positions would be reviewed as part of the city’s hiring freeze in response to the assessing error, which also impacts this fiscal year budget. However, he said the assistant manager’s position is “a key position,” and a job advertisement is being drafted. 

Dan Herrick, a former councilor, said regarding Monday’s process toward a vote: “What you people did tonight should have been done in workshops. It’s a joke.”

arice@sunjournal.com 

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