05/10/2016

Council will vote on $37.9 million combined 2016-17 municipal budget May 19

The Town Council will vote on a $37.9 million municipal budget for 2016-17 at a special meeting May 19.

After a public hearing that drew no speakers, the Town Council on May 9, 2016, postponed the vote so that the school budget validation election, already scheduled for June 14, will come within 30 days of budget adoption.

The council did however approve a series of special-fund budgets on May 9, including those for Fort Williams Park, Portland Head Light, rescue, sewer, the Spurwink Church and Riverside Cemetery, the Thomas Jordan Trust and the infrastructure improvement fund.

The $484,100 fund for Fort Williams Park includes $440,000 estimated for engineering and design of a proposed amphitheater for the parade ground bleacher area. Although the expenditure has been approved, the council will review and approve the amphitheater concept plan, one of the 2016 council goals.

The May 19 vote on the general fund budget is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Town Hall. CETV cable Channel 3 will broadcast the meeting live and will rebroadcast it before the June 14 validation.

Here is a summary of the budget proposals. More detailed information is available in this website's budget section:

Budget summary and proposed tax impact: [ download]