Gorham Town Manager David Cole

GORHAM — The town’s proposed budget is up $432,808, rising from $13.6 million to $14 million for an increase of 3.2 percent increase.

The figures do not include the school budget or the Cumberland County tax assessed the town.

Town Manager David Cole released his proposed town budget Tuesday for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The Town Council will study Cole’s spending plan in a workshop at 6 p.m., Thursday, April 6, at the Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.

“I expect the council to vote on the budget at their June 6 council meeting,” Cole said Wednesday.
 
Town taxpayers will also foot the tax levied by the county. In a transmittal letter to Town Council members, Cole wrote, “As council members know, the town is obligated to collect the property tax for Cumberland County, and their tax is part of the town’s annual property tax bill.”

Cole’s summary shows the Cumberland County tax charged Gorham goes up to $1.1 million from $1 million, an increase of $69,123, or up 6.6 percent.

In the past five years, Cole wrote in his letter, county taxes have increased 31.4 percent. But, Cole acknowledged some of the increase is the result of Gorham “growing faster” than other communities.

Cole’s town budget would raise the tax rate a projected 7 cents and this year’s county tax hike raises the town’s tax rate an additional 4 cents.The combined town budget and county tax increases would raise the tax rate 11 cents per $1,000 of valuation.

So, property taxes on a Gorham home valued at $200,000 would increase $22 for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.

The total municipal budget, including Cole’s proposed amount coupled with the county tax, is $15.2 million, up $502,000 from $14.7 million.

On the school budget, Superintendent Heather Perry said Tuesday her proposed $37.8 million budget has been trimmed nearly $400,000. Under latest School Department estimates, the school budget would increase the town’s tax rate another 55 cents per thousand dollars of valuation.

The School Committee budget was to be reviewed again Wednesday after the American Journal deadline. The School Committee is expected to vote Wednesday, April 12, on the budget.

The school budget will also require an OK from the Town Council and town voters in a referendum in June.

Darryl Wright, School Committee chairman, told the Town Council Tuesday it would vote in June on the school budget without knowing the final state subsidy figure for the town. The School Department now is projecting it will receive a $16.5 million state subsidy, up about $263,000 from the 2016-17 figure.

The budget season marks the final one as town manager for Cole, 64, who is retiring on Sept. 29. Cole became town manager here Jan. 10, 1994.

As a search for Cole’s successor gets under way, the Town Council is seeking public input at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 13, in Gorham Municipal Center, 75 South St.

Councilors are gathering information from the community about major issues and challenges facing the town along with qualities and experiences sought in a new town manager. Don Gerrish of Eaton Peabody Consulting Group will facilitate the meeting and present an overview of the selection process.

Those who would like to express their opinions, but are unable to attend the meeting, can email Dick Metivier at [email protected].

Robert Lowell can be reached at 854-2577 or [email protected].