The Chairman expressed condolences to the family of John Reed, a Gorham police officer who recently passed away. He asked for a moment of silence in John
The meeting recessed for a public hearing on the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year Budget.
There were 36 people present at the start of the hearing, including School Committee members and Town Department Managers. This number increased to 48 during the course of the hearing. Twenty-two citizens spoke with 18 speaking in support of the school budget and 4 asking that taxes not be increased. The hearing closed at 8:10 p.m.
Item #6800. Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to waive the Clerk reading aloud the proposed order. 7 yeas. The order, as printed and distributed, was moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Loveitt.
Moved by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Hamblen and VOTED to amend the proposed order by setting the appropriation for the Education Budget at $23,943,702 and also to appropriate $250,000 in additional non-property tax revenue, from the Middle School Impact Fee, toward the debt payment for the new middle school. 4 yeas. 3 nays (Justice, Willett and Loveitt).
Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to amend the proposed order by increasing the Town budget by $7,337.00 for a 3% pay increase for six employees. 7 yeas.
Moved by Councilor Willett, seconded by Councilor Loveitt and VOTED to amend the proposed order by increasing the Town budget by $41,015 to add one dispatcher. 4 yeas. 3 nays (Robinson, Loveitt, Phinney).
Moved, by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Willett and VOTED to amend the proposed order by increase the Police Department Budget by $13,540 to add a part-time secretary for the detectives. 4 yeas. 3 nays (Loveitt, Justice and Phinney).
The order, as amended, was then VOTED resulting in the following:
ORDERED that the Town Council vote to adopt the 2003-2004 Fiscal Year Budget with the following departmental totals:
General Government $ 957,885
Public Safety 2,570,588
Public Works and Solid Waste 1,934,734
Health & Welfare and Social Service Agencies 101,100
Recreation/Cable 277,781
Libraries and Museum 376,997
Planning and Development 238,281
Debt & Interest 439,061
Capital Items 266,262
Insurance 1,589,613
Other Town Services and Unclassified 109,791
Education 23,943,702
Cumberland County Property Tax 645,663
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Gorham Town Council authorize the Gorham School Committee to expend during the fiscal period July 1, 2003 through June 30, 2004 for support of the public schools $23,943,702 and additional operating expenditures which may result from Federal, State or other grants and subsidies not requiring local taxation; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town of Gorham authorize the School Committee to expend for the fiscal year July 1, 2003 to June 30, 2004 from the foundation allocation, debt service allocation, unexpended balances, and other sources of revenue and receipts for the support of schools and adult education, a total of $12,279,423; that the Town Council raise and appropriate a local share of the foundation allocation of $7,880,010 including local share of debt service $363,139 and additional local funds of $3,784,269 including $150,825 for adult education; that the revenues from the state allocation of $11,408,423, balances and miscellaneous receipts of $812,000; and that adult education subsidy and fees of $59,000 be used for education purposes. This budget does not
include the estimated amount of $2,120,284 in employer share of teacher retirement costs that is paid directly by the State.
The total budget to be $33,451,458. This total less estimated credits of $16,713,100 and a transfer from Surplus of $457,000 result in a Net Appropriation of $16,281,358 which shall be raised by assessment on the estates of resident and nonresidents property owners in the Town of Gorham, and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council adopt the Capital Budget Part II in the amount of $584,477 to be funded from the Town
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that all taxes on real estate and personal property shall be due and payable upon approval of this Order and that one-half of all real estate and personal property taxes that remain unpaid on November 1, 2003 shall commence bearing interest on November 2, 2003, and that the final half of all real estate and personal property taxes that remain unpaid on May 1, 2004, shall commence bearing interest on May 2, 2004 at an interest rate of seven percent (7%) per annum as authorized by Maine Law until paid and collected and the Tax Collector and Treasurer are authorized to collect and receive thereof; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that the Town Council authorizes the Finance Director to accept prepayment of real and personal property taxes; and
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Title 36, M.R.S.A., Section 506A, the Town Council establishes an interest rate of three percent (3%) per annum to be paid on all real estate and personal property taxes rebated due to overpayment of taxes.
BE IT FURTHER ORDERED that pursuant to Title 36, M.R.S.A., Section 906, the Town Council hereby require and direct that any tax payment received from an individual as payment for any property tax be applied against outstanding or delinquent taxes due on that property in chronological order beginning with the oldest unpaid tax bill, provided, however, that no such payment shall be applied to any tax for which an abatement application or appeal is pending unless approved in writing by the taxpayer.
Prior to the above vote a motion by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Hamblen to amend the proposed order to set a new total for the school budget of $23,227,388.00 FAILED OF PASSAGE. 2 yeas. 5 Nays (Loveitt, Phinney, Willett, Justice and Dugas).
Likewise a motion by Councilor Robinson, seconded by Councilor Willett to amend the proposed order to add $20,000 to the Recreation Department Budget for 2 portable classrooms FAILED OF PASSAGE. 2 yeas. 5 nays (Phinney, Dugas, Justice, Loveitt, and Hamblen).
Likewise a motion by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Loveitt to amend the proposed order by adding $20,000 back into the Education Budget FAILED OF PASSAGE. 3 yeas. 4 nays (Dugas, Phinney, Robinson and Hamblen).
Moved by Councilor Justice, seconded by Councilor Dugas and VOTED to adjourn. 7 yeas. Time of adjournment
A TRUE RECORD OF MEETING Attest:
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Town Clerk
