By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – Lewiston nonprofits should chip in to help defray the costs of big sewer projects, according to one city councilor.

Councilor Mark Paradis said he’d like to see some of the city’s big nonprofits, like Bates College and the local hospitals, help pay for sewer separation work. He floated the idea Thursday at a council budget workshop.

He realizes the city can’t force nonprofits to help pay.

“Some of them might say The heck with you! Why are we even getting this?'” Paradis said. “But some might be willing to chip in.”

Paradis said his goal would be to collect $1 million. That money would be used to pay for federally mandated work to separate the city’s storm sewer system from the sanitary sewer.

City Administrator Jim Bennett said staff will look at the costs and report back to the council in the next few weeks.

Councilor Lillian O’Brien said she was cautious about the idea.

“Keep in mind that many of these nonprofits provide services so the city doesn’t have to,” she said. “I don’t think anybody here doesn’t understand that nonprofits are already in a huge financial crunch.”

Councilors continued their review of Bennett’s $79 million city and school budget, looking briefly at department revenues and expenditures. The council is scheduled to meet with the School Committee on April 14. It’ll get deeper into department budgets after that meeting.

The council needs to adopt the budget by May 24, according to the city charter.

Revenues other than property taxes are expected to increase $610,784, according to the budget. That includes an estimated $175,000 in excise taxes on cars, trucks and boats, and $88,781 in city licenses and permits.

City spending would increase about $1.36 million over the 2005 budget.

“You’ll see that most of that is gas costs, and salaries,” Bennett said.

Bennett’s budget calls for no tax rate increase, thanks to $280 million in new development citywide.