Presque Isle city councilors on Wednesday tabled a decision on the 2025 budget until department heads cut another $129,000.
The group also discussed code violations and whether to foreclose on a number of properties.
The original proposed budget was $1.6 million higher than last year’s $18.2 million, councilors said. They set a goal for a flat total. Complete figures were not shared at the meeting. Further cuts and a revenue surplus of approximately $600,000 will bring the total down more, City Manager Tyler Brown said.
“In order to be a flat budget, we’ve got to [cut] another $129,000,” Council Chair Kevin Freeman said.
Inflation has driven the budget increases, including higher insurance costs, Councilor Craig Green said. Along with that, because Aroostook County government changed its fiscal year, municipalities were faced with an extra six months of county taxes, he said.
Councilors discussed several options, including using American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover some expenses, including a furnace replacement at City Hall, and staggering some building maintenance expenses.
Councilor Darick Williams suggested returning the budget to department heads for further cuts and having them present their ideas to the council.
The group voted unanimously to reconvene at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 18, for further action on the 2025 budget.
Owners of 47 Oak St. were operating a business without permits, while 37 Ward St. had two unregistered vehicles on the premises that have not been removed, Code Enforcement Officer Tim St. Peter said. Despite numerous city requests the issues have not been resolved.
Councilors voted to have the city pursue legal action against the property owners to force compliance with code.
Up next was discussion on whether to waive foreclosure on several properties with tax liens from 2022, whose owners owe at least three years of back taxes. The 17 properties range in value from $500 to $192,500, according to a list displayed at the meeting.
The city doesn’t have the time or staff to manage a number of properties if foreclosure is sought, and the process can take 18 months or more, St. Peter and Tax Assessor Lewis Cousins said.
Some of the parcels are rental properties and some are unoccupied, according to Cousins.
Certified letters have been sent to all the property owners every year they have not paid their taxes, St. Peter said. Some are making payments efforts and others are not.
“Even if it’s $50, I’d find that to be a good-faith effort,” Green said. “But nothing doesn’t show any effort, and I’m sure that there isn’t anybody on here who couldn’t pay something.”
Green proposed amending the list to waive foreclosure on five properties that are making payments, and to start the foreclosure process on the rest. The council approved the measure.
The five properties that will receive a waiver are: 82 Houlton Road, 42, 46 and 111 Presque Isle Trailer Park and 54 Golden Gate Trailer Park.
Foreclosure will be initiated on these properties, according to the list: 201 McBurnie Road, 7 Crestmont Circle, 70 Ward St., 65 State St., 5 Water St., 16 Academy St., 164 Egypt Road, 44 Cleaves Road, 7 School St., 93 Barton St., 9 Judd St. and 15 Strawberry Bank.
Presque Isle resident Kirk Carroll spoke during the public comment session about the affordability of living in Presque Isle with rising property valuations and taxes.
“When you think about your duty, I want you to think about the many elderly citizens in our community on fixed incomes who we are taxing,” he said. “I want you to imagine the first-time buyer who worked hard the last couple of years to secure enough money to buy his first home.”
It isn’t a question of downtown revitalization or building a new airport terminal, but a question of how the community’s tax dollars are spent, he said.
Freeman listed various holiday events. City offices will be closed all day on Christmas Eve.
The next regular city council meeting is slated at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 8, at city hall.
