BATH

After a proposed $15.25 million 2014-15 city budget drew sparse comment at a public hearing on May 21, the city council tonight is scheduled to take a final vote of approval on its budget for the next fiscal year.

The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at Bath City Hall in council chambers.

The city’s proposed $15,252,737 budget is a 1.4 percent, or $253,579, tax increase and combined with county and school budget increases, represents a 2.99 percent total budget increase. This would cause the current tax rate of $19.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value to increase to an estimated $20.25.

The council will vote on separate resolutions for the city operating budget, capital improvement budget, landfill fund budget, city bus fund budget, Bath Trolley and Transportation budget and a resolution to increase the LD 1 tax levy limit — among several other resolutions related to the budget.

Before councilors vote on budget items, they will hold a public hearing on several items they voted to grant initial passage for at their previous council meeting.

Up for hearings are the following:

— Amendment to the land use code to allow a contract one for the Plant Home in the Shoreland Zone;

— A land use code amendment creating a contract zoning district for the Residence Inn Marriot hotel soon to be under construction at 139 Richardson St., once the current Bath Shipyard Inn — formerly a Holiday Inn — is demolished;

— Approving the firefighters contract for a period of July 1, 2013, to June 30, 2016;

— Authorizing the city to issue general obligation bonds not to exceed $675,000 to fund vehicles, equipment and mainly facility improvements;

— And a supplemental appropriation in the amount of $545,000.

dmoore@timesrecord.com

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