City councilor explains the challenges and economic realities Biddeford is facing, asks for public input and guidance
By BRAD COTE | Biddeford City Councilor
Special to the Biddeford Gazette
As I read the well-written piece by Emma Bouthillette, (Biddeford’s looming budget; get involved) it got me thinking about the budget process and everything that goes into it.
I have two words regarding this year’s budget: massive challenge.
I don’t mean to be overdramatic, but people need to hear the difficult truth.
The city budget that we were presented with started with a 10.56 percent increase and the school is presenting a budget with a 3.87 percent tax increase. I will tell you that these will not be the final numbers… my fellow city councilors and I have a lot of deliberation and discussion to go through.
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I have two words regarding this year’s
budget: massive challenge.
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The budget for this year is inflated for a few reasons.
- One is working through some of the issues presented to the Council from previous administrations and trying to get them cleaned up.
- Another is inflation and the cost of life. Everyone knows that costs are going up everywhere due to decisions being made at a federal level. On a local level, we all feel it when we go to Walmart, Target or the grocery store. Those same cost increases are affecting the budgets as well. Everything is going up in cost right now and the city is not immune from this.
There have been some early discussions of a “zero percent” tax increase. While this sounds nice, it isn’t really realistic.
Because everything is going up in price, setting at zero means that we are falling further behind and “kicking the can down the road.” The city has done that enough; as a city, we annually allot roughly $2 million toward capital projects. However, the city currently has a backlog of projects that is more than $100 million.
The city needs a lot of work and we currently do not have the money to be able to do all the repairs that should be done.
I also hear the following from residents:
- “Cut city staff…the city budget is bloated anyway!” This is actually an incorrect statement.
City workers bust their chops and wear three or four different hats to be able to get the job done and serve this city. There isn’t some great amount of people just sitting around; many of our departments are actually understaffed.
- “Just tell each department head to cut 10 percent of their budget!”
There are two ways to cut city budgets: with a scalpel or with a machete.
Telling the council and the city to hack off 10 percent is not the right thought process to have; any cut should be thought through and done after careful reflection of the effects it may have.
To be honest, we do not have enough money coming into the city to be able to fund things as we have in the past. There are going to be proposals that may shock people. I know that there are some cuts I am considering that honestly make my stomach turn. However, the city is in a tough enough place financially where some of the cuts are going to be inevitable.
As a resident, you need to start asking yourself…what are you willing to live without for services? Is this fewer Recreation offerings? Will you accept reduced services from police, fire or public works?
The biggest help that the public can give us came directly from Emma’s article: GET INVOLVED!
The biggest frustration I get is when residents complain about their tax bill and they didn’t provide any feedback or get involved. Here is a short list of suggestions I have:
- Come to the public meetings on April 7 and April 14. Let us know your thoughts.
- Review the budget documents on the city’s website and come to the meeting with questions. Again, “cut 10 percent across the board” is not helpful; come with specific items that you feel would be proposals to cut.
- Bring forward any ideas you may have regarding creative ways to generate revenue for the city. City Councilors are not “all knowing” experts…we are folks just like you. If you have a good idea, we want to hear it.
The city council is going to do the best we can with a tough budget. Tough decisions are coming that are likely going to please nobody. We need your help and input to be able to ensure that we are doing the best we can for the residents of Biddeford.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Brad Cote is a member of the Biddeford City Council, representing Ward Seven. He may be contacted at brad.cote@biddefordmaine.org
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