Council approves 2011 budget
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — The city of Presque Isle’s mil rate will remain the same as last year, according to City Manager Jim Bennett, thanks to city and school officials working to cut costs while maintaining necessary services.
“The good news is the tax commitment is coming in so there will be no increase in taxes. That’s due to the hard work you’ve (councilors) all done and the SAD 1 board’s hard work,’” said Bennett during City Council’s July 6 meeting.
This year’s net to be raised by local property taxes is $12,413,627.81, according to figures presented to councilors by Finance Director Pat Webb.
“At budget time last year, we determined we would have no growth in the community (for the coming year),” said Bennett, noting that was not the case. “We actually had a little over 1 percent growth, including an increase in commercial properties.”
The city manager encouraged councilors to approve the budget as presented.
“If you approve the commitment as set forth, you’ve achieved a goal of not increasing taxes. That means unless someone’s done something to their property (an improvement that would have led to increasing the property’s value), their tax bill will be exactly the same as last year,” said Bennett.
Councilors unanimously voted to approve the budget, keeping the mil rate at $23.50 per $1,000 in valuation. A number of resolves were made by the Council, including:
• The tax commitment date for 2011 is July 1, 2011;
• The 2011 taxes are due and payable on July 25, 2011;
• Interest to be paid by the city of Presque Isle shall be at the rate of 3 percent per annum on reimbursements due to overpayment (abatement) of taxes;
• Interest on unpaid taxes shall be at the rate of 7 percent per annum. Interest on unpaid taxes will begin to accrue on Oct. 14, 2011;
• Abatements shall be appropriated from the 2011 overlay; and
• The mil rate for 2011 to be assessed against all taxable real and personal property shall be 23.5 mils with $39,876 to be taken from the city’s undesignated fund balance.
Bennett explained that “at the time of budget talks, that amount ($39,876) was included to cover (changes in) seven positions so that taxpayers wouldn’t have to pay.”
“I’m not aware of many communities who could hold the tax rate the same, even (communities) around us. It’s not easy to do. It’s due to the hard work by you and the school. When the tax bills go out, the fact they didn’t go up is a real credit to you,” said Bennett.
In other news, Council:
• Took no action on a request to amend Chapter 16 Land Use and Development Code, Section 7 — Agricultural Farming Zone;
• Amended by a vote of 6-1 (with Councilor Don Gardner abstaining) Chapter 16 Land Use and Development Code, Section 15 — Industrial Zone, conditional, to allow NMCC to erect wind turbine structures for training purposes only;
• Approved malt, spirituous and vinous liquor licenses for Mai Tai, Inc., with a location of 449 Main St., and Sorpreso, LLC d/b/a Cafe Sorpreso, located at 415 Main St.;
• Approved a special permit for music, dancing and entertainment for KBS Enterprises, Inc. d/b/a Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center, 116 Main St.;
• Approved policy language for the Employee Compensation Plan;
• Approved consent agenda items;
• Approved a special tax assessment under Maine’s dangerous buildings statutes;
• Approved the city’s working out a deal to contract out the code enforcement officer 75 hours a year to the Loring Development Authority;
• Approved the Presque Isle Housing Authority to exist and operate as an authority, as prepared by Council;
• Scheduled two public hearings to amend Chapter 16 Land Use and Development Code, Section 27 — General Development Zone, and Section 12 — Downtown Retail Business Zone, with hearings set for Aug. 1 and Sept. 7;
• Received an updated report on the city’s tower project, including talk of moving it back to State Street — an action that would result in less costly maintenance and better accessibility;
• Approved the fire and police departments’ request to transition from their current radio system to a digital method of communication;
• Approved administration of government policy changes;
• Confirmed city manager’s appointment of Dana Fowler as director of Public Services;
• Confirmed city manager’s appointment of Larry DeMerchant as deputy director of Public Works;
• Approved compensation adjustments for several city employees;
• Set a workshop date of Aug. 1 at 4:30 p.m. for an update on the Strategic Plan;
• Approved a request by the Star City ATV Club to use an old logging road with access to city property near the landfill; and
• Tabled discussion on the city’s covering the cost of insurance for the Balloon Festival, with councilors citing the lack of participation by festival organizers as the reason for postponing any decision at this time. If insurance is not obtained, Bennett said there may be no Balloon Festival.
City Council’s next session is scheduled for Aug. 1 at 6 p.m. at City Hall. The public is welcome and encouraged to participate. For more information, call 760-2785.
