AUBURN — The City Council approved next year’s $113 million combined city and school budget Monday while lowering its projected tax rate increase due to additional valuation.

According to Finance Director Jill Eastman, the city assessing office has changed its estimated increase in new value from $15 million to $40 million in new growth. She said based on the “conservative” estimate, it could be reduced further, but for now will result in a 20-cent increase to the tax rate.

Following a first reading on the budget two weeks ago, officials were looking at an 81-cent increase, and based on the initial estimate of new value, considering a possible change to a 65-cent increase.

Eastman said based on the new value, a home assessed at $250,000 will have an increase of $51.10 on its tax bill.

In a statement Tuesday, Mayor Jason Levesque said, “People are struggling, and close on the heels of a market adjustment on single-family homes last year, I’m proud that we are landing at what is ostensibly a zero percent increase. We are coming in well below inflation rates, and I congratulate staff on getting us here. I also commend the council for the work they have done, for supporting growth, and for leading Auburn fearlessly toward the future.”

The total appropriation for the city of Auburn is $113 million, with a $51 million municipal budget, $59 million school budget and $2.9 million county budget.

Auburn voters will vote on the school budget during the School Budget Validation Referendum election on June 13.

Two weeks ago, the council voted to eliminate the city’s recycling program, with a budget of $227,000. Councilors said Monday that they’d like the city’s sustainability working group to look at additional options, but no motion was made to reinstate the program prior to the final reading on the budget.

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