BIDDEFORD — On Wednesday, city council passed the fiscal year 2013 budget for a second time, this time at $170,000 less than the first time around.

This reduces the estimated tax rate increase for the city’s taxpayers by a few cents, to $16.68 per $1,000 of assessed property value ”“ $1.28 increase over the previous year’s rate. It’s 7 cents less than the estimated tax rate for the budget the council initially passed on May 29.

The new increase is 8.12 percent ”“ versus 8.6 percent ”“ over the previous tax rate and adds $3 million to the 2013 budget from the 2012 budget.

The new budget is $59.7 million.

Mayor Alan Casavant vetoed that budget on June 6 saying he believed the proposed property tax increase was higher than Biddeford taxpayers could afford.

At a workshop Monday, the mayor said he vetoed the original budget because there was a “disconnect” between the council and the taxpayers.

On Wednesday, Casavant attempted to make two other changes to the budget in addition to the reduction that passed.

He proposed reducing the education budget by $330,000 and increasing the revenue to the Biddeford Municipal Airport by $214,500. Neither proposal passed.

Prior to the votes, Casavant noted that although he had the prerogative to veto the budget again, he wouldn’t do so.

“I’m not going to go there,” said the mayor. “I’m not going to play Russian roulette with the taxpayers.”

More members of the public spoke up on Wednesday than in previous budget meetings.

Several spoke in favor of reducing the budget, like Kevin Buechs, who said it was too high and people can’t afford it.

Christopher Robinson said he philosophically disagreed with the approach to the budget and urged the council to vote against the higher budget.

But even some who agreed the tax increase was high, like Dennis Anglea, said decreasing it by a few pennies wouldn’t have much impact on taxpayers. He urged passage of the initial budget.

In a 5-4 vote, the council reduced funds for property revaluation, updating the comprehensive plan, sidewalk improvements, textbooks and other items for St. James School, the McArthur Library and the Health and Welfare Department.

Councilor Bob Mills was the deciding vote. He had initially voted to pass the higher budget and even voted with the majority against upholding the mayor’s veto.

This time, alluding to events likely to take place in the future, he decided to vote for the slightly reduced budget.

Some councilors speculated he was referring to a council vote scheduled to take place in July for the city to purchase the Maine Energy Recovery Company incinerator and close it.

Maine Energy contributes approximately $800,000 in tax revenue to the city; that revenue will be lost if the facility closes and will have to be picked up by the rest of the city’s taxpayers.

Although the council has had its say, there is one last step. On Tuesday, a school validation referendum will take place. The polls will be open at the J. Richard Martin Community Center from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

— Staff Writer Dina Mendros can be contacted at 282-1535, Ext. 324 or dmendros@journaltribune.com.