ROCKLAND – In a special meeting of the Rockland City Council April 26, the Budget Work Group presented council members with the proposed budget for Rockland FY 2018. In an opening statement, Interim City Manager Audra Caler-Bell said the group worked hard to develop a budget that prioritized long term investment in Rockland.

Caler-Bell said the budget retains current levels of service to residents and has a minimal effect on taxpayers.

"We have managed to deliver a fiscally responsible budget despite major cost increases," she said. "This includes a 10 percent increase in the cost of employee health insurance and two to three percent pay increases negotiated for union members as part of their contracts."

Caler-Bell said even with the increase, the draft budget only reflects a 0.09 percent increase, which allows the city to maintain its current level of services and progress capital priorities.

Finance Director Tom Luttrell said the budget is in the Council's hands now for deliberation to approve later in June.

"I think it's a very conservative budget, very fiscally responsible," he said. "Basically the average taxpayer in Rockland will see a $15 increase at the city side of the tax rate. I think that speaks well of the work group working very hard to bring that forward."

Councilor Valli Geiger said the work group had done a great job with only a .09 percent increase and no decrease in city services.

The first workshop on the FY 2018 budget is next Wednesday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers at City Hall.