Claremont
Though the money for the bus was not actually added to the bottom line, City Manager Ryan McNutt has said he will find it in other areas of the budget.
The budget is projected to add 17 cents to the municipal portion of the tax rate, bringing it to $15.04 per $1,000 of assessed valuation. That adds about $23 a year in taxes on a property assessed at $140,000.
The approved budget was a reconsideration of an earlier failed motion. It adds $80,000 for the library position and reduces money in the streets and roads budget for two culvert repairs by $100,000, to $345,000. That money will come from the city’s reserve account and the revenue side was cut by the same amount. Public Works Director Scott Sweet said one of the culvert repairs can probably be done for more than $100,000 less than projected.
Mayor Charlene Lovett, Assistant Mayor Vic Bergeron and councilor Nick Koloski opposed the budget. All three were adamant that any budget not increase the tax rate.
“Having the highest tax rate in the state hurts us,” Lovett said.
Others were equally firm in their view the library position needed to be restored and there was strong support to keep a business development position, even though it has not been filled, and may not be next year.
“I don’t think taking $77,000 out of that budget is the way to go,” councilor Allen Damren said.
The council rejected a motion by Lovett, based on an option presented by McNutt, which would have meant no tax increase, restored the library position and added $25,000 for the bus while cutting about $149,000, including $77,000 for the business development grant writer position.
Earlier McNutt said he had spoken with Planning and Development Director Nancy Merrill and decided they would not fill the business development position next year until they determine “exactly what the added value would be.”
Several councilors said repeatedly that the position is key to the city’s efforts for economic development to broaden the tax base and lower the tax rate.
“We have a chance to do something and we are going to take it out of the budget,” Bergeron said. “I don’t understand.”
Something else came out of last night’s meeting that appeared to catch councilors by surprise. During his presentation to find savings, McNutt said he could cut $12,000 from the fire department by delaying the hiring of a new chief. McNutt said Chief Rick Bergeron has indicated he will be “executing his retirement.”
McNutt also said there is no money in the budget to pay three firefighters after grant funding for their positions runs out next March.
Patrick O’Grady can be reached at pogclmt@gmail.com.
