Winslow City Council adopts $18.4 million tentative budget

As presented, the tentative budget totals $18.4 million for the coming fiscal year, a nearly $2.1 million increase over the previous year.

The projected General Fund revenues for the fiscal year are just over $8 million, a $363,182 increase over the current year. Of that total, approximately 40 percent is the city sales and bed tax, which is projected to bring in just under $3.2 million, $111,000 less than last year. State shared revenues make up for about 33 percent of the revenues and are projected to bring in $2.6 million, about $59,136 less than last year. The property tax makes up four percent of the general fund and is projected to bring in $371,710, an increase of $11,710 over last year. Increases in municipal court fees, recreation fees, permits, franchise taxes and charges to other funds make up the remaining 27 percent, or $1,863,890, an increase of $521,608 over last year’s revenues.

The budget includes an increase in the primary property tax rate of 2.74 cents for fiscal year 2017, for a total tax rate of $1.4021. This would increase the annual tax levy on a residence valued at $100,000 from $137.47 to $140.21. As a result of this increase, a Truth in Taxation public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, as part of the regular council meeting.

Proposed increases in fees and rates include the residential usage rate for water, which would increase three cents to $2.54 per 1,000 gallons for up to 15,000 gallons of water. For the next 5,000 gallons of water, the usage rate would increase three cents to $3.05 per 1,000 gallons. For every 1,000 gallons over 20,000, the usage rates would increase five cents to $5.08 per 1,000 gallons. All sewer base rates would increase three dollars to $15.92. The sewer rates per 1,000 gallons would increase 14 cents to $4.74 for residential, 12 cents to $3.99 for small businesses and churches, 18 cents to $6.22 for motels and bars, and 46 cents to $15.66 for restaurants and dry cleaners.

Capital projects lined out for the coming year include the replacement of police vehicles, a security fence for the perimeter of the police department and dispatchers’ hardware, for a total of $165,000. The sum of $18,000 will go to pay an annual lease amount for a new phone system for the city, and $402,387 will pay for the city’s share of an airport runway project, with the remaining $4.4 million of the project to be paid with Federal Aviation Administration and state funds. The water department will use $160,000 for equipment and dredging.

The Wastewater Department will be upgrading manholes at a cost of $100,000. Treatment plant improvements will be funded with a revenue bond of $6.4 million, with a new sewer line to be funded with a revenue bond of $1 million.

It is proposed that the city give support and subsidies to several community organizations, with $46,000 to go to the Winslow Council on Aging, $35,000 to the Old Trails Museum, $134,000 in bed tax to the Winslow Chamber of Commerce, $4,999 to the Little League Umpire Association and $500 to the Because We Care Graduation fund.

The next meeting scheduled to discuss and possibly take action on the final budget is scheduled at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28, with the proposed rate changes to be presented at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, July 12, with both meetings slated at the council chambers at 21 Williamson Ave.