Gorham Town Manager David Cole was to present his proposed budget to the Town Council on April 4.

Cole’s proposed budget is $10.9 million, a 5.2 percent increase from last year’s $10.4 million. The increase would add 21 cents to the tax rate, accounting for a 4 percent hike. The tax rate is now $19.50 per $1,000 in valuation.

He said the consumer price index, the rate of inflation figured by the federal government, is 3.4 percent for the calendar year.

Cole said the budget increase was driven by the new debt service to pay for Gorham’s share of reconstructing Brackett Road and a part of Libby Avenue. He said paying for that project accounted for 17 of the 21-cent tax rate increase.

He said the town also faced rising costs for gasoline and heating oil along with additional expenses of operating the new Municipal Center, scheduled to open this fall.

The net appropriation for Gorham property taxpayers to support the municipal side of the budget would be about $4.9 million representing a 5.7 percent increase.

The Town Council will discuss Cole’s budget in workshops on April 6, and April 13. The council will hear the School Department’s budget request on April 25.

The council is tentatively scheduled to vote on a budget in early May, Cole said.