Bath City Manager Marc Meyers rolled out a $24.7 million proposed budget for the city this week, marking a $2.4 million increase, or 11%, over the previous year.

The primary drivers are personnel, benefit costs and facility improvements. The proposed budget would bring a projected tax increase of 1.69%, which would mean a $30 increase in the annual tax bill for a home valued at $300,000, Meyers said.

The final budget workshop is on April 30, with a public hearing set for May 20. The Bath City Council will vote on the final budget on June 3.

Here is what Meyers had to say about the city’s proposed budget.

This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.

Is this year’s tax increase lower than last year?

The fiscal year 2027 proposed budget’s hypothetical tax increase is slightly lower than last year’s final budget. The property tax increase in the proposed 2027 budget is 1.69%, and in fiscal year 2026, the property tax increase was 3.01%.

This is just for the city and doesn’t include RSU 1 or Sagadahoc County.

Which projects align with the city’s comprehensive plan for fiscal year 2027?

The city’s comprehensive plan serves as a guiding document as we review and improve the City’s capital improvement plan annually. Bath’s plan is centered on four big ideas, including to keep Bath welcoming and livable, supporting the downtown, investing in our existing infrastructure, and building resiliency. The city’s capital improvement plan takes steps forward in those areas.

A highlight of this budget is the city’s continued facility investment. The city is using invested reserves to rehabilitate and replace aging buildings over the next 10 years, reducing pressure on property taxpayers and ensuring facilities that support city employees and services.

Is the increase in the sewer fund mostly due to the replacement projects for Bath’s sewer system?

In 2023, Bath voters approved a $24.6 million bond to upgrade the city’s aging sewer infrastructure, with the debt payments driving the increase to the sewer fund.

The city has made progress reducing pollution and sewage overflows into the Kennebec River, but these projects come with a cost. Sewer rate payers should expect ongoing rate increases in future years as the city continues to invest in the treatment plant and infrastructure.

Why is the landfill fund increasing, and what factors are driving the increase?

The landfill fund increases are driven by capital costs and wage increases, while also requiring regular investment in the management of gas, erosion and leachate to ensure a safe and environmentally responsible facility. This proposed budget includes the replacement of a 30-year-old loader, which is beyond its useful life.

Why hire a program director in the recreation department?

The City’s Recreation Division has had the same level of staffing since 1984. The program director position would expand the city’s ability to launch new programs and sustain our existing offerings. This position would provide year-round leadership for the city’s summer program and is long overdue.

Are there more union jobs for the 6.19% increase in the general fund for this fiscal year compared to the previous year?

This is the first full fiscal year of budgeting for our four recently signed collective bargaining agreements, which last between July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028, which included market adjustments and annual cost of living increases. There is only one new union position, a police officer that was unfilled and frozen in fiscal year 2026.

Bath residents can review a draft of the 2027 proposed budget on the city’s website.

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