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05/02/2018 - updated 05/03/2018

Proposed $39.7 million combined budget set for public hearing May 7

The Town Council will hold a public hearing on May 7, 2018 on a proposed $39.7 million combined municipal budget for fiscal year 2019.

The spending plan for town, school and county services is up 1.9 percent over this year, and would raise taxes to $19.33 per $1,000 of assessed valuation, an increase of 7.4 percent. The increase would add $400 to the tax bill for a home valued at $300,000. [jump to summary][ download summary]

The increase in taxes is due primarily to a $875,000 drop in school subsidy. School spending is proposed to increase 3.1 percent, to $25.6 million, but a 47-percent reduction in total projected school revenues is driving the school portion of the tax increase to 10.1 percent.

Town revenues on the other hand are slated to increase 1.9 percent. The proposed $12.4 million budget for town and Community Services is up 1.9 percent, adding 6 cents to the tax rate for those services, an increase of 1.4 percent.

Highlights of the town budget proposal, finalized at a special Town Council meeting May 1, include $90,000 for a school resource officer and $75,000 for a pilot tax-relief program for senior citizens. Excluded from the proposal was $114,000 toward the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust's purchase a 52-acre addition to the Robinson Woods conservation land. [news article]

Other town budget highlights are replacement of the town's ladder truck, 15-year-old ambulance, dump truck/snowplow and larger pickup truck; increased per-diem fire personnel from one to two; Phase II of the Hill Way/Scott Dyer Road reconstruction; and pay/display parking units anticipated for use at Fort Williams Park.

Also up for public hearing May 7 are nine special-fund budgets ranging from the Cape Elizabeth Rescue Fund to Land Acquisition. Councilors are expected to vote on the special funds May 7, but will defer voting on the town, school and county budgets to May 14. The school budget is subject to a townwide validation vote on June 12.

Included in the school budget $249,350 for engineering and architect's fees for a feasibility study for proposed future school renovations; $60,000 for an added custodian; and, an 8.75-percent ($283,354) budgeted increase for health insurance.

Overdue funding from the state is resulting in a 20-percent decrease in the town's contribution to the state's local Homestead Exemption (tax relief) program. The town will spend $300,000 toward that program, compared to $375,630 this year, resulting in a tax-rate reduction of 5 cents toward local Homestead Exemption.

Budget Summary        
Fiscal Year  2019        
  FY 2018 FY 2019 $ Change % Change
  BUDGET BUDGET FY 18  to FY 19 FY 18  to FY 19
EXPENDITURES        
TOTAL MUNICIPAL
$      12,137,599
$        12,368,374
$              230,775
1.9%
COUNTY ASSESSMENT
$        1,331,050
$          1,392,240
$                61,190
4.6%
Local Homestead Exemption
$           375,630
$             300,000
$              (75,630)
-20.1%
SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT
$      24,879,013
$        25,641,276
$              762,263
3.1%
 
$      38,723,292
$        39,701,890
$              978,598
2.5%
 
REVENUE
TOTAL MUNICIPAL
$        4,938,670
$          5,032,007
$                93,337
1.9%
SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT
$        3,332,211
$          1,768,977
$         (1,563,234)
-46.9%
TOTAL
$        8,270,881
$          6,800,984
$         (1,469,897)
-17.8%
 
NET TO TAXES
TOWN  SERVICES
$        7,198,929
$          7,336,367
$              137,438
1.9%
Local Homestead Exemption
$           375,630
$             300,000
$              (75,630)
-20.1%
COUNTY ASSESSMENT
$        1,331,050
$          1,392,240
$                61,190
4.6%
SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT
$      21,546,802
$        23,872,299
$          2,325,497
10.8%
TOTAL
$      30,452,411
$        32,900,906
$          2,448,495
8.0%
 
TAX RATES (Rounded to nearest ¢)
Local Homestead Exemption
$                  0.22
$                    0.18
$                   (0.05)
-20.6%
TOTAL MUNICIPAL
$                  4.25
$                    4.31
$                    0.06
1.4%
COUNTY ASSESSMENT
$                  0.79
$                    0.82
$                    0.03
4.0%
SCHOOL  DEPARTMENT
$                12.74
$                  14.03
$                    1.29
10.1%
TOTAL
$                18.00
$                  19.33
$                    1.33
7.4%
 
TAX RATE VALUATION BASIS
1,692,995,900
$  1,702,025,100
$     9,029,200.00
0.5%

Special Fund Budgets 2019

  Budget Estimated  Budget Estimated Budget $ Change % Change
Expenditures FY 2017 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2018 FY 2019 2018 to 2019 2018 to 2019
Cape Elizabeth Rescue Fund   $   440,936  $   440,936  $   447,336  $   429,161  $   539,200  $      91,864 20.5%
Cape Elizabeth Sewer Fund  $2,271,587  $2,151,587  $2,099,300  $2,178,559  $2,030,598  $    (68,702) -3.3%
Spurwink Church Fund  $       9,209  $       9,209  $       9,209  $       7,990  $     10,491  $        1,282 13.9%
Riverside Cemetery Fund  $     55,784  $     55,784  $     57,328  $     54,235  $     66,589  $        9,261 16.2%
Fort Williams Park Capital Fund  $   485,600  $     44,180  $   264,135  $   258,885  $   173,246  $    (90,889) -34.4%
Portland Head Light Fund  $   543,230  $   543,230  $   560,643  $   615,663  $   628,035  $      67,392 12.0%
Thomas Jordan Fund  $     52,035  $     52,035  $     52,035  $     12,035  $     37,035  $    (15,000) -28.8%
Infrastructure Improvement Fund   $            -    $            -    $            -    $            -    $            -    $             -   0.0%
Land Acquisition Fund   $            -    $            -    $            -    $            -    $   167,714  $    167,714 100.0%
Use of General Fund carry Forward  $   107,000  $   107,000  $   317,400  $   317,400  $     77,000  $   (240,400) -75.7%
Total Budget  $3,858,381  $3,403,961  $3,807,386  $3,873,928  $3,729,908  $    (77,478) -2.0%
               
  Budget Estimated  Budget Estimated Budget $ Change % Change
Revenues  FY 2017 FY 2017 FY 2018 FY 2018 FY 2019 2016 to 2017 2016 to 2017
Cape Elizabeth Rescue Fund   $   390,000  $   390,000  $   390,000  $   280,000  $   300,000  $    (90,000) -23.1%
Cape Elizabeth Sewer Fund  $2,000,300  $2,000,300  $2,028,300  $2,040,270  $2,032,300  $        4,000 0.2%
Spurwink Church Fund  $       4,700  $       4,700  $       4,700  $         900  $       1,200  $      (3,500) -74.5%
Riverside Cemetery Fund  $     44,500  $     44,500  $     44,300  $     69,000  $     67,000  $      22,700 51.2%
Fort Williams Park Capital Fund  $   195,650  $   195,650  $   201,355  $   204,225  $   199,800  $      (1,555) -0.8%
Portland Head Light Fund  $   555,800  $   555,800  $   576,000  $   676,000  $   636,000  $      60,000 10.4%
Thomas Jordan Fund  $     40,000  $     40,000  $     40,000  $     40,000  $     40,000  $             -   0.0%
Infrastructure Improvement Fund   $     30,000  $            -    $            -    $            -    $            -    $             -   0.0%
Land Acquisition Fund   $     32,914  $     32,914  $     32,914  $     32,914  $   112,914  $      80,000 243.1%
Total Revenues  $3,293,864  $3,263,864  $3,317,569  $3,343,309  $3,389,214  $      71,645 2.2%