Presque Isle City Council
sets municipal portion of budget
By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — After weeks of workshops and hours of debate on ways to maintain costs while continuing to provide necessary services, the City Council unanimously passed the 2012 municipal budget to the tune of $12,471,035.
Prior to setting the figure, Council Chair Emily Smith questioned how a reduction of 25 percent would be reached with regard to unclassified and outside requests, giving weight to concerns raised earlier in the evening about cuts to the senior citizens’ program. City Manager Jim Bennett explained that would be up to the new Council to decide later in January.
“The new Council, at the end of January, would address where adjustments are made. Those are usually paid quarterly,” said Bennett.
Bennett said that could be part of the discussion in determining such things as rates for residents and non-residents.
“The new Council will wrestle with that as part of this package,” he said. “You’ll also have one more meeting before the end of the year.”
Councilor Don Gardner, in one of his last acts as a councilor, made the motion to approve the budget, with Councilor Peter Hallowell seconding and the budget passing.
“I know this has been extremely tough for all of you and the community,” said Bennett. “I know it’s a budget that individually you don’t like a particular part, but the vast majority of it maintains the vast majority of services. It doesn’t end up in a place where I have to hand out layoff slips.” Reductions were addressed through early retirements, some positions weren’t filled, while personnel at the Presque Isle Police Department underwent some shuffling — a detective transitioned to corporal and a sergeant has been downgraded to a patrol officer — preventing layoffs.
“Other communities around us have had tax increases. You’ve done your part; now it’s up to SAD 1 to do theirs in the spring,” said Bennett.
Smith commended Bennett and Finance Director Pat Webb for their efforts to present all the necessary data for councilors to reach a balanced budget.
Councilor Mel Hovey also commented on the process.
“Jim has taken quite a lot of heat in the community because of some of the things we’re doing, but for the most part he’s doing exactly what we’ve, the Council, asked him to do. Hopefully this will take the heat off him and put it on us,” said Hovey.
Gardner said he’s dealt with 12 budgets and they don’t get any easier.
“This was probably the hardest one we’ve had to deal with. There are so many heartfelt wants for the community. I’m leaving. You guys have a big job ahead of you,” said Gardner.
During Monday’s meeting, Council also:
• Authorized the pre-payment of debt by a vote of 5-1, with Hovey opposing;
• Authorized the replenishment of the retirement reserve account by a vote of 5-1, with Hovey opposing;
• Approved amendments to the 2012 budget by a vote of 6-0, with a reduction of $104,603 from last year’s figure; and
• Reauthorized levying the tax rate on or before June 30, 2012, with the rate set at the first meeting in July 2012, once Aroostook County and SAD 1 budgets are incorporated.
Council will meet one more time this month, on Monday, Dec. 19. For more information, contact 760-2785 or visit www.presqueisle.govoffice2.com.
