GRAY — The town manager’s $9.9 million budget proposal for the 2021-2022 fiscal year is a 9.5% increase over last year’s $9.03 million budget.
Outgoing manager Deb Cabana presented the budget to the Town Council last month. New Town Manager Nate Rudy started work earlier this week and will take over the process.
The biggest increase is to the capital improvement project budget, which the manager’s proposal lists at $2,485,525, a 38% increase over this year’s $1.8 million budget. Accounting for the increase is $671,400 for road resurfacing and various other projects.
The biggest reduction proposed is for the parks and recreation department’s budget, which the manager’s proposal sets at $40,238, a decrease of $27,116, or 40.3%, from this year’s budget. It calls for a nearly $12,000 reduction in facilities maintenance. Repairs and equipment replacements at Crystal Lake, Wilkes Beach and Libby Hill were all included in this year’s budget.
For parks and recreation there is also a $9,522 proposed cut to per diem personnel wages, which is 100% of this year’s budget allotment. Former Director Sarah Rodriguez was recently hired as New Gloucester’s parks and recreation director, though it is not clear if her position will be filled. The department’s website lists two employees: a parks and facilities director and a child care services coordinator.
The law enforcement budget would increase 7.7%, which includes $34,295, or 13.5%, more for the county sheriff contract over this year. The department budget overall is $235,693.
The budget proposal also calls for a 14% increase for general assistance and a nearly 12% reduction in the elections budget, which accounts for the fact that there is no general election this year.
The manager’s proposal does not include a projected property tax rate. The 2020-2021 tax rate per $1,000 of assessed property value is $14.75, which includes county, municipal, school and tax increment financing taxes. The municipal tax rate alone is $4.30. The owner of a $250,000 home in Gray paid $3,687.50 in property taxes this fiscal year.
For a full list of workshop dates, visit graymaine.org/finance/pages/fy-2022-budget. The first public hearing is scheduled for April 6.
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