Published on May 12, 2020

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on the town portion of the proposed fiscal 2020-21 budget at 7 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2020, with adoption scheduled for a special meeting May 27.

Both meetings will be held by video conference. Links to join the meetings will be published with their agendas.

Proposed budgets for town, school and county services for next year total $46.8 million and pose an overall tax rate of $19.86, up 0.9 percent over this year. [pro forma summary].

The May 18 hearing will address only the budget proposed for town services ($16.8 million), county assessment ($1.5 million), and special-fund expenditures for services such as sewer, Portland Head Light and capital improvements at Fort Williams Park ($6 million).

The town budget poses a tax rate of $13.91, down 3.46 percent compared to this year. Combined with a 87-cent tax rate for the county assessment, taxes are proposed to decrease 2.25 percent for non-school services.

After the council's last review workshop April 28, the budget was reduced by $370,000 by removing construction funds for the Kettle Cove drainage project, said Town Manager Matthew Sturgis. Planning and engineering for the project are still funded, however, so the project will be 'shovel ready' the following year or if stimulus funds become available.

The May 27 adoption date for non-school budgets was set to comply with the town charter, which requires adoption at least 30 days before the end of the fiscal year.

The school budget, however, is not scheduled for adoption until June 15, within the 30-day window of the validation election prescribed by state law. The validation is tentatively scheduled for July 14, coinciding with the state primary and referendum rescheduled because of the coronavirus pandemic. Whether that validation will occur is unclear, officials said at the Town Council meeting May 11.

Of primary concern is the maximum capacity for gathering places put forth in by Gov. Janet Mills' plan for reopening Maine, said Town Manager Sturgis. "A number of towns across the state are pushing the governor to say, 'would you consider, this one year, allowing the elected officials in each community to have that approval?'" Sturgis said. Holding a validation in July is especially challenging for unified school districts that need to approvals across multiple towns.

"We thought we were going to get some guidance last week," Sturgis said. "We did not receive that."

Jamie Garvin, chair of the council's finance committee, said he would welcome public comment on the school budget May 18, but would also encourage a separate hearing before the council votes on school expenditures June 15. "I think it's important to have a specific public hearing on the (school) budget, all the more so if we are in a position where we are not putting it out to referendum," Garvin said.

The School Department is proposing a $28.49 million budget for 2021, posing a tax rate of $5.07, up 3.79 percent over this year's.