LEWISTON – Lewiston’s review of a post-property-tax-cap budget has been effective, according to Finance Committee member Bob Stone.

“It’s good politics,” Stone said. “Basically, they’re bringing all the negatives to light in a good way.”

Lewiston’s work on a post-tax-cap budget continues at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Lewiston City Hall. The group – Mayor Lionel Guay, city councilors and seven volunteers – are scheduled to hear a report from school Superintendent Leon Levesque on the cuts he would need to make to fit under the tax cap.

The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. It will be broadcast live on Great Falls TV.

Stone said he has watched most of the broadcasts on TV, from the comfort of his living room. But he may attend tonight’s meeting.

“I do want to see what the School Committee will have to do,” Stone said.

Voters are scheduled to vote on capping property taxes across the state at 1 percent of assessed valuation, or $10 per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Last week, City Administrator Jim Bennett told councilors the revenue cut would force the city to lay off 69 percent of city employees, gutting the police, fire and public works departments and eliminating recreation, the library and economic development.

Levesque is scheduled to outline similar cuts for the schools tonight, showing how the School Department will trim 64 percent of its budget.

The tax-cap panel will come back on Wednesday to discuss how to put programs back into the city budget, possibly supported by user fees and other revenues.

“Keep in mind, it’s purely political,” Stone said. “The City Council will have to act on its own, when all this is said and done. They have the final say.”

Stone said he’s no friend to property taxes, but he doesn’t support the proposed 1 percent cap – “The cuts on local government are just too draconian,” he said.

“That’s what Jim Bennett has done, paint the worst-case scenario to really get people thinking about this,” Stone said. “It’s bad legislation, not really well thought out, and doesn’t solve the problem.”