SACO — The Saco city administrator has proposed a $25.8 million municipal budget, which will be reviewed and possibly amended by the City Council for approval in May.

City Administrator Kevin Sutherland presented the proposal at Monday night’s City Council meeting.

The proposed municipal budget, combined with the proposed $36.2 million school budget and nearly $1.3 million county tax, would increase the mil rate from 19.42 to 20.62.

On a $213,000 home, the median value in Saco, this would increase taxes by $295 a year.

Sutherland had presented a preliminary budget proposal in January, and department heads submitted funding requests they would like to see beyond what Sutherland proposed. He reviewed the requests and has recommended some changes to the initial proposal.

The city administrator’s recommended additions to the proposal include replacing worn out carpeting in City Hall, replacing cardiac monitors and defibrillators for the Fire Department, creating a blighted building fund, adding a human resources position and software for fire call dispatching, continued support for the Age Friendly initiative, and adding audio and visual enhancements for the City Hall auditorium.

The City Council will begin reviewing the budget by department at a series of public workshops beginning March 27. Residents can give input at a public hearing on April 18. 

The City Council will vote on the city and school budgets on May 8. This will be the final approval for the municipal budget. The school budget will go before residents for a final vote at a city-wide referendum in June.

For more information about the proposed city budget, go to sacomaine.org.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.