STANDISH – If the town manager’s budget stays intact through the upcoming budget season, Standish taxpayers won’t see a tax increase for the coming year.

Gordon Billington’s $8.19 million municipal budget calls for about $1.94 million worth of new spending on capital improvement projects, such as road paving and a new fire truck. By comparison, the town spent about $900,000 on capital projects last year.

However, despite the capital expense, the overall tax rate will remain unchanged at $11.60 per $1,000 of property valuation, Billington said, since the town is also retiring about $900,000 in debt service.

“We’re catching up on capital,” Billington said. “The mil rate stays flat. By this current budget there is no increase in the mil rate.”

Billington said the retiring debt service is from a 10-year bond dating to 2003 that paid for reconstruction of Whites Bridge Road and Boundary Road as well as construction of a sand-salt shed for public works.

Billington said the new capital projects include construction of sidewalks at Standish Corner, alignment of the Route 25/Oak Hill Road intersection, purchase of a $375,000 fire truck, and $75,000 for engineering services at Sandbar Beach, which the town has entered an agreement with Portland Water District for a town-managed beach for Standish residents. His budget also calls for public works facility expansion.

The capital projects, which Billington said need to be approved by referendum vote according to town charter, will be presented to Standish residents at the June election. Standish’s annual town meeting will follow the referendum vote.

The manager’s budget now heads to the Standish Budget Committee, and then to the Town Council with voters getting the final say at town meeting.