zero-percent increase over 2015

Rockland City Council approves $21 million budget

Sarah Thompson

Thu, 06/25/2015 - 8:00am

Councilor Will Clayton reviews the FY 2016 budget at the Rockland City Council meeting.

Mayor Frank Isganitis.

ROCKLAND — Rockland City Council finalized its 2015-2016 budget June 24, approving unanimously a $21 million budget to keep the city running. The budget represents a zero percent increase over the current budget.

At the city's final budget meeting, held in Council Chambers, the Council agreed to restore $97,500 to the recreation department to $246,256, and to draw $15,000 from added revenue and another $15,000 to help fund the Harbor operations.

The budget process has been arduous for the city, as Councilors sought to mitigate the property tax impact on city taxpayers, especially in light of a $25 million school budget. That school budget failed at the polls June 9, however the city has reached its own budget conclusions.

Councilor Valli Geiger said: "We heard loud and clear from many property owners that their property burden was more than they could handle." Geiger spoke of the significant reduction in revenue from the state, which, according to her, should have been 55 percent, and was actually 16 percent. She also said that Maine law provides for a five percent return on sales tax to the municipalities, yet this year only two percent was given.

Rockland’s municipal tax assessment will total $16.9 million, after revenue is applied and helps reduce the tax load.

		Proposed 2016 Budget
		Budget Summary
8	General Fund Tax	$ 419,496
11	Legislative	7,038
12	Executive	235,314
13	Assessment	164,890
14	Finance	530,146
15	Legal	112,452
16	City Clerk	212,864
18	Services	199,562
19	City Hall	37,291
25	Engineering	25,000
30	Dispatch – Communications	190,319
31	Police	1,929,996
32	Fire	1,559,211
34	Municipal Fish Pier	134,250
35	Lights and Hydrants	617,836
36	Code Enforcement	228,610
37	Community Development	131,834
41	Public Works	1,604,092
51	Contributions	20,000
52	General Assistance	82,040
61	Harbor & Waterfront	200,792
62	Library	520,232
63	Recreation	246,256
71	Unclassified Fringe Benefits	90,932
72	Unclassified Other	230,928
81	Total Debt Service	1,190,914
91	Intergovernmental	10,046,852

	TOTAL GROSS BUDGET	$ 20,969,147

	Less Non-Property Tax Revenues	(3,995,778)

	NET BUDGET, GENERAL FUND	$ 16,973,369

	Capital Improvements Fund	$ 400,000
	Sewer Fund	$ 3,968,066
	Transfer Station Fund	$ 1,589,032
	Emergency Medical Service Fund	$ 612,777