Scarborough Town Manager Ron Owens’ proposed $19.5 million municipal operating budget includes a $1 million or 5.5 percent spending increase, with the bulk going to increase the town’s public safety capabilities. He also proposed reducing the school board’s $35.8 million budget request by $450,000. 

As originally proposed by the school board, the budget would have increased $2.4 million or 7.3 percent over the current budget. Owens’ proposal reduces the increase to 5.8 percent.

Owens’ combined municipal, school and county budget totals $85 million – just under an 18 percent increase from last year’s budget, although that figure includes roughly $20 million in capital improvements including a $14 million for “Phase 2” of the public safety building renovation, according to the summary. Owens said that money would be borrowed and any such bond would need voter consent through a referendum.

“These increases are required by a growing community,” Owens said, adding that Scarborough’s population has increased by 4,000 since 2000.

Owens’ forecast a 4 percent increase in property tax, or 46 cents per $1,000 of assessed value from $11.80 to $12.26. The figure is greater than the 3 percent target set by the Town Council’s Finance Committee.

Much of the remainder of the revenue needed to cover these costs will be funded with “various reserve fund transfers,” according to a summary accompanying the budget.

“The proposed spending plan, excluding capital projects and debt services increases spending by 5.5 percent,” according to the summary. Much of that 5.5 percent increase would fund “six new paramedic and firefight/EMT positions in the Fire Department, two additional officers for the police department and a new pay plan for the library.”

According to Owens’ written budget proposal, the fire department has been operating during the past several years with an incomplete staff. Through benefits and improved compensation to part-time workers the department has been able to compensate for the staffing gaps, but Fire Chief Michael Thurlow said the time has come to make a serious change.

Owens approved Thurlow’s request for two paramedic and four firefighter emergency medical technician positions as a part of the department’s $3 million budget. Thurlow said the staffing additions are a part of his plan to increase to 42 total positions to the department during a 10-year period.

“The only full time staff we currently have is the rescue, and I want to see that changed,” Thurlow said. He said his goal is to keep all trucks at all six Scarborough fire and rescue stations staffed 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

Owens also proposed the addition of two police patrolmen as a part of the department’s $4.4 million budget. Scarborough Police Chief Robert Moulton said the ultimate goal of the department is to provide full staffing for the Haigis Parkway, Eight Corners area as it becomes more and more developed and populated.

“There is so much growth in that district, we are just making sure we give it the proper attention,” Moulton said.

School Superintendent David Doyle said with increased enrollment and valuation he is anticipating $7.7 million in general purpose aid from the state – a $500,000 increase from last year’s figure. In response to Owen’s half-million dollar budget cut, Doyle said he was not surprised.

“He is under a lot of pressure to keep taxes as low as possible, I understand. In a growing town there are pressures across the board,” Doyle said.

Owens, who intends to step down this year, said he expects this to be his final budget proposal for the town.

Contact the Leaser at news@scarboroughleader.com.