BIDDEFORD — On Wednesday, after a public hearing on the proposed Biddeford city and education expenditure budget, the Biddeford City Council voted for its initial approval. The council will hold a final vote on Tuesday, although residents get the final say on the education portion of the budget during a referendum election on June 11.

There were no amendments to the proposed budget, which adds 36 cents to the tax rate, Finance Director Cheryl Fournier said. That could change Tuesday when council members have what is scheduled to be their last chance to debate the numbers.

The city portion of the proposed FY 2020 expenditure budget to begin July 1, is $33.1 million, the education portion is $38.9 million — including about $689,500 for adult education — and the cost is $1.2 million for the county tax, bringing the grand total to $73.2 million. The total amount of taxes to be raised, according to budget documents on the city website, is about $43.8 million.

If the proposed expenditure budget is passed without any changes, the mil rate for FY 2020 would be about $20.06 per $1,000 of assessed value, up from the current $19.70 tax rate. Property taxes for a single-family, median valued home of $227,1000 would be about $4,154.42 for the year, versus $4,079.87 last year, a $74.55 increase, City Manager James Bennett said. The mil rate could be adjusted prior to issuing of tax bills.

Only about 4 cents of the increase would pay for the city portion of the budget, with about 32 cents to cover the rise in education costs. The total proposed increase to the education budget from the FY 2019 to FY 2020 budget is about $646,941, Superintendent of Schools Jeremy Ray said, which is about 2.99 percent.

The proposed academics and operations increase is a little under $100,000, he said, while capital improvement costs would go up about $557,000.

Several residents spoke at the public hearing prior to the council vote.

Some like Ben Lemelin complained about property taxes. “As a taxpayer we are the people that are supporting all of the amenities for our great city and to me everybody should be trying to help out someway or another, it shouldn’t be just the property owner. … Why is that only the property owners that have to be the cash cow?”

He suggested that the council and city staff research what other communities are doing to ease the burden on taxpayers.

Many who addressed the council asked for financial support for their organization.

“I was disappointed you didn’t give us any funds,” said Priscilla Mcguire, a volunteer with the Biddeford Mill Museum. She spoke about the history of the Biddeford textile mills and their role in the city’s economy. “I hope you would put a little money in us so we could take this unique story out,” she said.

McArthur Library Director Jeff Cabral, and several others asked that the council increase its support for the library to $527,000.

“We really do provide a critical social service in the community,” Cabral said. He noted that health insurance for employees has risen substantially. “We are really relying on your help,” he said.

Roch Angers, a member of the library’s board of trustees, speaking in support of the higher number said “a lot of demands are put on us,” which is increasing as more people come to the city. He added that “more people are in and out of (the library) than any other business on Main Street.”

Residents can vote on the education budget from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. June 11 at Tiger Gym at Biddeford High School on Maplewood Avenue.

— Associate Editor Dina Mendros can be reached at 780-9014 or [email protected]