AUBURN – City government and schools face $1 million in service and staff cuts next year, as demand for property tax money continues to rise.
“We might be able to provide the same service, but just more slowly,” City Manager Pat Finnigan said. “You’ll still get your street plowed, but with fewer employees it will take longer. So that’s what we’re trying to determine now – people’s tolerance for that versus increased taxes.”
Councilors will meet at 6 p.m. tonight to continue budget deliberations.
On Tuesday, the council cut $28,900 in funding to social service programs such as Head Start and Tri-County Mental Health Services. Finnigan said staff cuts might be next.
Draft budgets for both the municipal government and the schools include spending increases. Proposed total spending citywide is up $3.5 million – to $62.3 million – for fiscal year 2006.
Councilors directed city staff and school officials Tuesday to trim $1 million from the spending budgets for the next year.
Auburn’s School Committee was scheduled to meet Wednesday night to discuss trimming $350,000 from their budget.
Finnigan said she and her staff were looking for cuts. She said they’d be ready to present $650,000 in municipal cuts at tonight’s meeting.
It will be difficult because neither budget includes new programs.
“The big three areas where our costs increase are in salaries and benefits, fuel and salt for the roads,” Finnigan said. “That doesn’t leave much room in the budget. Anything you cut represents cuts in services.”
Non-property-tax revenues – including state aid – should increase a modest $855,240, according to budget numbers. Auburn would need another $2.68 million in property taxes to cover the difference. That would mean bigger tax bills, about $100 for the average home.
“That’s where the council is right now, finding out what level of tax increase people are willing to put up with,” Finnigan said.
A $1 million cut in proposed spending would still boost property taxes by 4.5 percent, Finnigan said.
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