After voting to table a review of the proposed $23.8 million budget for 2026 and the public hearing Wednesday, Androscoggin County commissioners were presented with a resolution from the Auburn City Council opposing the 13.15% increase in assessments to municipalities.

Of the total budget, $12.5 million is for county government and $11.3 million is for the jail. After factoring in anticipated revenues of nearly $6.6 million, $17.2 million would be raised by taxes. It’s $2 million more, or 13.15%, than the current budget.

Increases include 12% for health insurance, $700,000 to board inmates at other county jails because of overcrowding, and labor costs.

Chairman Andrew Lewis of Auburn said information received over the weekend prompted him to move to table the budget review. He did not say what that information was.

However, before going into executive session with legal counsel, commissioners heard from those who came for the public hearing, which will be rescheduled.

A Minot resident asked commissioners to lower the increase, saying he just received a significant increase in his health insurance premiums.

Auburn City Manager Phil Crowell read a resolution from the City Council, also opposing the increase. According to the resolution, Auburn’s share increased from about $2.6 million in 2022 to a proposed $3.8 million in 2026, or 47% over five years. The largest increase is $445,202 proposed for 2026.

“These steep and accelerating increases are unsustainable for Auburn taxpayers and are inconsistent with the city’s efforts to maintain fiscal discipline and stabilize the property tax rate,” Crowell read.

He said the proposed budget includes increases, particularly within the Sheriff’s Office and jail operations, that were initially funded through temporary American Rescue Plan Act funds, and should not be absorbed into the budget without sustainable funding sources.

“Whereas, the current Androscoggin County Charter grants final budget authority to the county commissioners, even when a majority of the Budget Committee — comprised of municipal representatives — opposes certain expenditures; and where as, the Auburn City Council believes that the Budget Committee should have binding authority to reduce or reject budget increases that are not fiscally responsible or supported by a majority of its members,” Crowell read.

He asked, on behalf of the council, that all new positions and programs funded by ARPA or temporary sources be removed from the budget. He also asked that commissioners amend the county charter to grant the county Budget Committee final authority to reduce or reject budget proposals by a majority vote.

Crowell said the City Council will ask commissioners to vote against the budget and limit the increase to 5%.