AUBURN — The City Council gave initial approval Monday to a $128.4 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year following concerns from residents over cuts that impacted a recreation department position. The vote was 6-1.

Misty Edgecomb, chairperson of Auburn’s Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, told officials that the $80,000 cut, which eliminated a recreation department employee who worked with seniors, has “measurable impacts on real people.”

“I understand the challenges you face, but I urge you to consider where the scalpel is being applied,” she said. The recreation department programming is beneficial to public health for seniors and teens and delivers “a considerable return on investment,” she added.

Despite a number of residents speaking out against the proposed budget, officials said a difficult budget year led to cuts across all departments.

Mayor Jeff Harmon also told the public that while the grant-funded position was cut, there will not be impacts to senior programming because the recreation department will “deliver the programming with a different mix of people.”

Kathy Lupo, an Auburn senior, said the senior programming has been the primary way she’s made friends in the community, and that many seniors were “disturbed” when one day the employee working with them was gone.

Councilor Leroy Walker, who is chairman of the city’s Age-Friendly Community Committee, said councilors hoped to avoid the cut, and he is hopeful that staff can find a way to keep the programming running.

“We know exactly how these cuts have impacted across the city,” he said. “We have no choice.”

Officials have said the fiscal 2026 budget has been a difficult one, with a 22% increase in debt service for large infrastructure projects such as the new public safety building.

Prior to the vote on the budget, Councilor Belinda Gerry proposed cutting the annual stipends for the mayor and councilors in half. However, City Administrator Phil Crowell said the council is unable to alter the stipends for the current council.

The cut, if allowed, would have produced $8,750 in savings.

Councilor Adam Platz told residents that over the next two weeks, leading up to the final reading of the budget May 19, officials will look at potential ways to “salvage” the recreation position.

“We asked all departments to make cuts,” Councilor Tim Cowan said. “It’s a very tough year.”

The council voted 6-1, with Councilor Gerry opposed.

The budget includes $60.6 million in municipal spending, $64.4 million for schools and $3.3 million for Androscoggin County.

The school budget validation referendum is scheduled June 10.

If approved as is, the property tax rate would increase by $1.01, to $23.26 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, with the municipal budget accounting for 84 cents of the increase.

Next year’s budget includes the first debt payments for the $45 million public safety building project, which was approved by voters in 2023.

Harmon, responding recently to a constituent email he received regarding senior programming, said that even with no new programs or services, the estimated property tax increase for next year was 10% at the start of budget talks.

“To reduce the property tax increase to a more acceptable level, difficult choices needed to be made,” he said. “Budget reductions, including personnel changes, were made across the departments. To the extent possible the current services are being maintained.”

Harmon has also touted the council’s approval of property tax relief for low-income seniors, which he said was “by far, the priority concern that we heard from our senior citizens.”

Also on Monday the council approved roughly $11.7 million in bonds for its Capital Improvement Plan. The projects include matching funds for Maine Department of Transportation work, road resurfacing, $500,000 for the citywide property revaluation, and $3.7 million for the new Engine 2 fire station.