BATH

School tax increases are poised to drive most of a 2.48 percent property tax increase for Bath residents, say city officials.

The total amount to be raised by taxes will be $21.15 million, an increase of $510,978. The tax increase impact to Bath taxpayers breaks down as follows:

• The municipal budget will increase taxes by 0.75 percent.

• The Regional School Unit 1 budget will increase taxes by 1.79 percent.

• The Sagadahoc County budget will increase taxes by 0.07 percent.

While taxes are increasing, the city’s spending will be decreasing slightly to $15.88 million; it’s a reduction of $133,368 from the current year’s budget spending of $16.01 million.

City officials credit the decrease to the fact that Bath won’t make a debt payment on the sewer bond in the 2019 fiscal year — though payments will commence in the following fiscal year.

But, because the landfill and sewer budgets account for most of the decrease in spending, taxpayers won’t reap the benefits. Those two budgets receive most of their funding through fees. So even though the landfill and sewer budgets are decreasing by $83,051 and $170,407, they won’t have a significant effect on the tax burden.

Salary and benefit increases for city employees will contribute to the municipal tax increase.

“That’s not even a full percent,” said Council Chairwoman Mari Eosco. “What we have control over as this city council, we only went up 0.75 percent.”

A public hearing on the budget will take place at 6 p.m. May 16 at City Hall.

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