HOULTON, Maine — Town councilors gave a consensus approval Monday of a “relatively flat” $10.7 million municipal budget for 2018 to present to residents on Jan. 3.
“If all revenue remains the same, or increases at all, as currently estimated in the proposed budget, there should be, at most, only a nominal change in the mill rate,” Houlton Town Manager William MacDonald said. “The Board of Budget Review and town council has put forward a fairly flat budget in an effort to provide quality public services while keeping the tax rate stable.”
The current 2017 Houlton tax rate is $22.25 per $1,000 of property value on a total 2017 budget of $10,690,001. The proposed 2018 budget is $10,734,761.
The budget committee was presented the spending plan in November and spent several meetings going through each department’s proposals and making a few changes.
Councilors also made a few changes to the budget that was presented by the town’s Board of Budget Review when it gathered Monday evening to review the spending plan. Chief among the changes was a reduction in a cost of living adjustment for department heads.
The Board of Budget Review recommended a 3 percent COLA for its non-union employees. The councilors, however, felt that amount was too high and instead opted for just a 2 percent wage increase after hearing from the town manager.
“I respect the Board of Budget Review’s support of the employees, but the original budget with a 2 percent increase is what I would recommend,” MacDonald said.
That additional 1 percent would have resulted in an increase of about $8,600 in salaries.
Another item that drew considerable discussion was a $1,000 donation request from Lifeflight of Maine to assist in the cost of providing air transport of patients from Houlton Regional Hospital to larger hospitals.
“I don’t like to be the Grinch who stole Christmas, but I find the other agencies a very hard category to fund,” Councilor Sue Tortello said. “I have a very hard time trying to discern which are worthy, because they all are. I am not saying Lifeflight isn’t worthy, I just don’t see how (giving the group) $1,000 helps the people of Houlton. Especially since this program is funded by the hospital. Where do you stop?”
Tortello’s fellow councilors did not share her opinion.
“I am a big supporter of Lifeflight,” said councilor Raymond Jay. “I think $1,000 is peanuts compared to what that helicopter does for the town of Houlton.”
The board ultimately decided to grant the $1,000 request.
MacDonald said as a whole, he was pleased with the spending plan put forth.
“Both the board and the council expressed concerns that they are continuing to constrain spending on important infrastructure, such as roads and facilities,” MacDonald said. “We also are hopeful that RSU 29 will use the additional state funding they have received both to support educational programs and reduce the burden on municipal property taxes.”
