ROCKLAND — The Rockland City Council will begin its review of the city’s budget for FY 2014-2015 this evening, April 28, at City Hall. The public safety department’s budget is under review, including fire and EMS service.

Presented to councilors at the regular meeting April 23, the city’s $10.7 million budget is now scheduled for a series of reviews of the different departments every Monday and Wednesday through May 28.

In a April 23 letter to the Rockland Council, Acting City Manager Tom Luttrell said the proposed budget holds the city’s mil rate to $8.89 per thousand, which is a zero percent mil rate increase over 2014.

Luttrell said the proposed budget includes a three percent raise for all employees, a 20 percent increase in the Maine State Retirement rate and a 10 percent increase in health insurance premiums. He said the most significant savings came from not filling vacant positions in the city’s staff. Those positions include assistant to the city manager, a reference librarian and the soon-to-be-vacant fire chief position.

Fire Chief Charles Jordan is to retire May 1 and Luttrell has appointed Assistant Fire Chief Adam Miceli as interim fire chief.

Luttrell said he wanted to take the first six months of the fiscal year and study the position of public safety director. If the city council accepts his proposal he will try and create a job description that combines the police and fire departments under one individual.

Set for review on Monday is the city’s fire and EMS departments. The fire department has asked for appropriations of $1,536,756 to run the department. That reflects a 1.6 percent decrease over last years budget.

Scheduled meetings include:

April 28: Fire and EMS

April 30: Police

May 7: Solid Waste and Community Development

May 14: Public Works

May 19: Sewer

The proposed budget reflects a zero percent city tax increase. Luttrell said he believes it is a responsible budget with realistic revenue estimates and accurate appropriation requests that reflects the needs of the city.