Governor's proposed budget could cost Belfast big bucks
Belfast — A proposal by Gov. Paul LePage to suspend revenue-sharing for two years could leave Belfast with a significant financial hole to fill, according to Belfast city officials.
If the revenue-sharing payments were suspended, City Manager Joseph Slocum said, Belfast would be looking at a loss of $650,000 in funding. That gap would result in a one-mil property tax increase to residents if the city covered the funding loss through a tax increase, he said.
The city has seen its portion of the revenue-sharing funding decrease steadily dating back to 2008. When the city approved its 2012-2013 budget, Slocum estimated the city had seen a reduction of more than $400,000 in revenue-sharing since the beginning of the recession.
The state sets aside 5 percent of its monthly sales, corporate and personal income tax revenues to fund the revenue-sharing pool. Cities and towns receive a percentage of that funding, based on a calculation using state valuations, tax assessments and estimated or actual populations, according to the State Treasurer’s Office website.
The revenue-sharing system was established as a means to help ease the property tax burden for residents while providing funding for programs run by the towns that were previously handled by the state.
Although Slocum was skeptical that LePage’s budget would be approved as presented, he said he anticipates that Belfast will continue to see a reduction in the amount of revenue-sharing it receives.
A preliminary analysis distributed by the Maine Municipal Association stated that towns and cities would lose $283 million in property tax relief funds over the two-year period. The proposed budget would eliminate $139 million in fiscal year 2014 and $144 million in fiscal year 2015.
Because of those reductions, the Maine Municipal Association said, the resulting cuts from city and town governments “can only be described as extremely serious.”
LePage refuted the Maine Municipal Association’s assessment of his proposed budget, saying in his Jan. 25 weekly address that the amount of funding provided through revenue-sharing accounted for between 2 and 4 percent of the budget for cities such as Bangor, Portland and Waterville.
“It is not impossible for local government to save money, consolidate services and identify priorities. If revenue-sharing makes up as little as 2 to 4 percent of community budgets, it is reasonable to request local officials to find alternatives,” LePage said in his address.
LePage noted in his address that revenue-sharing has not been fully funded dating back to Gov. John Baldacci's tenure. The Maine Municipal Association estimated that the state has regularly taken about $40 million a year from the revenue-sharing fund under the LePage and Baldacci administrations.
Slocum acknowledged that a reduction in state revenue-sharing could mean the city has to make “hard cuts” in the budget.
“We may have to propose cuts people don’t like,” Slocum said.
Where potential cuts may come from is still unclear, but Slocum said he is asking each department head to provide a proposed budget by March 1, as well as a more detailed explanation of what challenges the departments face in trying to provide services.
“We want people to know we tried to put forth the best budget,” Slocum said. “Wherever the numbers end, they end.”
The City Council will receive the budget by April 1, with a final budget proposal completed by May 30. Residents will then vote on the budget on June 18, according to a memo from Slocum.
Republican Journal reporter Ben Holbrook can be reached at 338-3333 or at bholbrook@courierpublicationsllc.com.
Seaview Terrace is not on the agenda for 2/5. This is not government, this is targeted resident slaughter. Slocum, Marshall and Hurley display ego, anger, control issues and City Council is weak. After 2 years of proving and pleading, they are silent. There is no excuse for any of them. Tick, tick, tick for Seaview Terrace.
I know many are upset to keep reading this. It interferes with the illusion that all is well. Come live in hell, our lives and homes under drowning assault. When the big flood comes- will only take 5-6 inches- the loss will forever scar Belfast. It can be fixed.
To live in safety is paying to live in town on a City maintained street. They must be stopped. Which neighborhood is next?
How much has it cost to cover up the drowning of Seaview Terrace. I recently discovered the reason for the hell horror they put me through.
Inverse Condemnation
An increase in environmental problems has resulted in a new type of eminent domain proceeding called inverse condemnation. In this proceeding, the property owner, rather than the condemnor, initiates the action. The owner alleges that the government has acquired an interest in his or her property without giving compensation, such as when the government floods a farmer's field or pollutes a stream crossing private land. An inverse condemnation proceeding is often brought by a property owner when it appears that the taker of the property does not intend to bring eminent domain proceedings.
Here is another NEED for resolution dated 1/18/13 to Council. Planner and Manager. They don't WANT to comply. Occupy Belfast is becoming a reality. You would save your neighborhood against death from the City hands. Have compassion, I am not the evil one here.
Dear Jennika,
Please advise what the final conditions for snow accumulation/plowing at these sites. It is my understanding from the Planning Board that "plowable" snow must be removed off site. This link provides pictures and proof that these sites are not removing the snow and will continue to pile and melt to Seaview Terrace in roaring rapid wipe us out style. As happened in 2009 and 2011 and Wayne Marshall claiming mother nature and all kinds of stats in rainfall for 5 years, on and on and on our tax payers clock. While in full knowledge that he made the conditions and has the documents.
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=105736045670734847961&target=ALBUM&id=5831861393761808113&authkey=Gv1sRgCKebwrrxq8PZxQE&feat=email
After the sites are confirmed that plowable snow is to be removed offsite, I want to know;
1. Who is responsible to enforce code. I would think Todd Rosenberg.
2. Why isn't he enforcing code, year after year knowing Seaview Terrace is at the receiving end of this negligence. Simple drive by is all that is required, just like I did. Clearly visible as you see in the pictures. I copied the Police Chief so he will be aware of illegal plowing even if it isn't with in his purview.
3. I want those sites to remove current and all future piles immediately. I want to know the date that all the present snow will be removed.
4. I want confirmation that at all future snowfall, the snow will be removed simultaneously off site when plowing.
These are the sites to confirm final conditions for plowing snow.
1. CASS
2. Belfast Birches
3. Hilltop Birches
4. VOA
5. Tall Pines
6. MidCoast Mental Health
7. Legore Subdivision- Birch St. Development
8. Town Houses on Cedar St
5. National Guard
6. Youngs Seafood (next door to National Guard)
7. Larrabees (sp?) Plumbing
8. Prays Homes
9. Airport
10. McLeods Trailer Park on Lower Congress
11. Entire Annex Office Site across from WCGH
I also noted snow piling on the corner of Upper Congress and Rte 1 North. Please advise if this is legal or in violation of City Ordinance. I see the City front loading snow into dump trucks throughout town and believe the same applies to that area as it is a major City road inside the bypass.
Please respond with this email and to all recipients to avoid the never ending confusion of smokescreen communications? from Planning and City Manager.
Hit the residents and smash those drowning. Hammering the hard pressed and dedicated as the City Wall Hall, Manager, Planner, and City Attorney yield immense salaries and the largest spending. City Council never addresses their cost to the City in mismanagement and a history of flooding residents. Where is Planning's spread sheet- unforeseen costs, enormous time and City resources to cover up corrupt planning crushing residents. Corruption is expensive, penalize the perpetrators not the residents. City Council please wake up and serve the people. Stop spending on wants and fix the needs of residents. Beginning with the drowning death of Seaview Terrace. www.belfastbullies.blogspot.com
by laurie allen
Play slideshow
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/sredir?uname=105736045670734847961&target=ALBUM&id=5831861393761808113&authkey=Gv1sRgCKebwrrxq8PZxQE&feat=email