CARIBOU, Maine — After a lengthy discussion and a series of failed motions, Caribou City Council agreed to set the 2019 mill rate to 24.55 per $1,000 of evaluated property during a July 22 meeting.
During their last scheduled meeting, councilors discussed increases from the school and county that resulted in an approximate 0.8 mill increase and looked into the possibility of keeping any increases on the city’s side of expenses flat. The original planned budget would have led to a total increase of 1.7 mills. Last year’s mill rate was set to 23.7.
City Manager Dennis Marker shared possible amendments during the meeting that would keep the city’s budget flat, including reducing the overlay, reducing the amount of funds available for tax abatements, using funds from the Public Works Department equipment reserve, and also using one-time funds granted to the city.
Mayor Mark Goughan raised concerns about using too many one-time funds granted to the city, telling councilors he felt that this money should be set aside in a rainy day fund and adding that he would like to “grow this community.”
Marker suggested keeping the mill rate on the city’s side flat, but not using an additional $90,695 in one time funds given to the city from Aroostook Waste Solutions as a result of their merger with Presque Isle, and instead directing staff to make additional reductions.
Councilor Joan Theriault said she would make Marker’s suggestion a motion: “to keep the mill rate at [24.55] without using an additional $90,695 in Aroostook Waste Solutions money.”
“That keeps the mill rate flat on the city’s side,” Theriault added.
City Clerk Jayne Farrin asked Theriault to clarify that this mil rate would involve no one-time funds, and the councilor said it would involve some one-time monies, but not the originally proposed additional funds from AWS.
With Deputy Mayor Jody Smith absent, six councilors were present for the meeting, and all but David Martin voted in favor of Theriault’s motion.
The Council then agreed to set the date of tax commitment to Aug. 5, and to make them due by Sept. 30, with interest beginning to accrue on Oct. 1 and onward.
