MONMOUTH — If Monmouth accepts the proposed 2019-2020 municipal budget, residents would see a 0.62 percent increase to their taxes, or 11 cents on the mil rate.

The current mil rate is $17.55 per $1,000 of property value, and the increase would raise that mil rate to $17.66, if adopted. On a property valued at $150,000, annual taxes could increase from $2,632.50 to $2,649, a difference of $16.50.

The summary was presented by Town Manager Curtis Lunt during the Jan. 30 selectboard meeting.

It proposes a spending plan of $3,273,559.65, an increase of $106,476.51 — or 3.3 percent increase — from the of the 2018-2019 budget.

Driving the budget increase is “mostly general inflation,” Lunt said in a phone interview after the meeting.

The increases on the budget draft are represented by a cost of living adjustment for town employees, step raises, higher health care costs, police retirement, workers compensation and capital improvements.

The municipal budget does not include county taxes, Watershed District assessments, RSU 2 assessments or any special articles proposed after Jan. 30.

“The town recognizes the difficulty of paying property taxes,” read a statement on the budget summary. “At the same time a responsible budget must be provided for essential services within the town.”

Once approved by selectmen, the article will appear on the warrant for the June referendum for voters to cast their ballots.

In other news, selectmen gave good feedback on plowing during recent storms, Lunt said in a phone interview Thursday. A group of Monmouth residents turned up at the Jan. 16 selectboard to note concerns about the way roads were maintained during and after the Jan. 8-9 ice storm that blanketed the region.

Lunt said there was more supervision for new plow drivers and more material for the roads.

“We learned on our mistakes and refocused on the routes,” Lunt said.

The selectboard will meet again at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the town office.

Abigail Austin — 621-5631
aaustin@centralmaine.com
Twitter: @AbigailAustinKJ