By Ward Peck

Editor

    Whether because of satisfaction or resignation, few
Cape Elizabeth residents spoke at this week’s public hearing allowing
members of the public to express their views on a combined $31.5
million town and school budget that will go into effect on July 1.

    If passed in the current form on Monday, taxpayers
in the town will see their property tax rate increase 30 cents per
$1,000 in assessed value, or 1.86 percent.

    The handful of people who did speak focused their
attention on the $18.8 million school budget, speaking out against
several members of the town council who took a pledge three years ago
to tie spending increases to the rate of inflation. That pledge was
intended to last three years.

    The current budget deliberations represent the final
year of the pledge. All who spoke at the hearing expressed relief that
the pledge will expire and urged councilors not to renew it.

    Town Councilors settled on a compromise increase
between an inflation rate-based 2.5 percent increase and a school board
request for a 3.8 percent increase. The difference between the two
figures is $146,000. All but roughly $46,000 of that difference will be
financed through a $2.4 million bond. Of that total, $461,200 will be
used for school projects and $1.9 million for town projects.

    The $8.5 million municipal portion of the bond escaped the public hearing without comment.