Latest update from May 5, 2020
There are some meetings of interest this week. Check the town website for access links via YouTube or Zoom.
May 5 @ 3:00 pm - finance committee
May 6 @ 6:00 pm - town council including first reading of the budget
May 7 @ 1:30 pm - board of education finance meeting
There are some meetings of interest this week. Check the town website for access links via YouTube or Zoom.
May 5 @ 3:00 pm - finance committee
May 6 @ 6:00 pm - town council including first reading of the budget
May 7 @ 1:30 pm - board of education finance meeting
from April 23, 2020
The Town Council meeting of April 15, 2020 set a May 6 first reading of the upcoming budget along with a requested 2% mil rate increase in property tax. The town councilors agreed the starting point of a proposed ~5.5% mil rate increase was not appropriate in light of employment impacts from the coronavirus. Allowing more time to set a budget starting point is possible as the Governor has delayed the statewide primary election date to July 14. A joint town and school finance workshop has been scheduled for April 29. Citizens can access that virtual meeting via Zoom or YouTube. Check the town website for the specifics.
from April 15, 2020
From Facebook - Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough, Maine posting -
There were two budget workshops yesterday (April 14) afternoon -- one by the Joint Town Council/School Board Finance Committee and one by the Town Council. There were two positive results:
1. The budget process will be lengthened to allow for adjusting assumptions, plans and recommendations that were developed prior to the pandemic. In the new schedule, final Town Council action on the budget will occur on June 17 and the school budget referendum will be held on July 14.
2. The clear consensus of the Town Council was that the 5.6% tax rate increase initially proposed by the Town Manager and the School Superintendent was unacceptable in view of current circumstances. There seemed to be general agreement that the revised "starting point" goal for the budget should be a 2% or less tax increase. How that goal would be allocated between the town and schools was not determined at the meeting.
While a 2% increase is a big improvement over a 5.6% increase, is it the right number for these highly uncertain times? Your voice will matter!
You can view both at the attached link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyJpX8Ssls&t=4311s
There are two more meetings scheduled for today (April 15):
5pm -- Town Council Workshop on the Library expansion ($12+ million; still to be on the November ballot???)
6pm -- Town Council Meeting with the budget as a major topic.
See the Town website to join the virtual meetings.
We'll keep you posted as the process unfolds!!! Stay well!
There were two budget workshops yesterday (April 14) afternoon -- one by the Joint Town Council/School Board Finance Committee and one by the Town Council. There were two positive results:
1. The budget process will be lengthened to allow for adjusting assumptions, plans and recommendations that were developed prior to the pandemic. In the new schedule, final Town Council action on the budget will occur on June 17 and the school budget referendum will be held on July 14.
2. The clear consensus of the Town Council was that the 5.6% tax rate increase initially proposed by the Town Manager and the School Superintendent was unacceptable in view of current circumstances. There seemed to be general agreement that the revised "starting point" goal for the budget should be a 2% or less tax increase. How that goal would be allocated between the town and schools was not determined at the meeting.
While a 2% increase is a big improvement over a 5.6% increase, is it the right number for these highly uncertain times? Your voice will matter!
You can view both at the attached link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyJpX8Ssls&t=4311s
There are two more meetings scheduled for today (April 15):
5pm -- Town Council Workshop on the Library expansion ($12+ million; still to be on the November ballot???)
6pm -- Town Council Meeting with the budget as a major topic.
See the Town website to join the virtual meetings.
We'll keep you posted as the process unfolds!!! Stay well!
from April 14, 2020
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Write us at SMARTaxes, PO Box 893, Scarborough, ME 04070
Follow us on Facebook: Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough
Write us at SMARTaxes, PO Box 893, Scarborough, ME 04070
Follow us on Facebook: Concerned Taxpayers of Scarborough
