BRUNSWICK

Members of the Brunswick Town Council on Thursday said there may be tough choices ahead in order to rein in next year’s budget. Based on requests from town

departments, the municipal budget could increase by 3.62 percent, requiring a $1.35 million net increase in property taxes.

Town Manager John Eldridge outlined nearly a half-million dollars in cuts to the requested proposals to reduce the increase to 2.3 percent, or $865,000 more in property taxes.

On Wednesday, school board deliberations began on a $37 million budget proposal. The preliminary school budget alone represents a 4 percent tax increase.

Eldridge wants to reduce that preliminary budget by $750,000.

“The school department certainly has the right to approve whatever budget it wants,” he said.

Councilor John Perreault said he would not support anything morethana3percentcombined municipal and school increase.

“Sitting at this table, you have to make the hard choices, sometimes,” Perreault said.

“Let’s not forget this is a public process,” Eldridge warned. “You’ll have plenty of help.”

Last year, the council approved a 3.5 percent increase in the tax rate that helped pay for a nearly $58 million combined municipal and school budget.

The town depends on some state funds to offset costs, but the amount of revenue sharing Brunswick will receive is unknown. Talks between legislators and Gov. Paul LePage indicate municipal revenue sharing may be flat-funded, meaning Brunswick would get a little less than $1 million.

The town has seen a decrease in revenue sharing from $2 million over the last six years.

Brunswick’s state school subsidy saw a sharper decline from $14.5 million in 2008-09 to $9.9 million this year.

Included in Brunswick’s preliminary municipal budget are funds to fill a vacancy at the police department, increases in fire department personnel costs and other spending, and funds for sidewalk and road projects.

Eldridge is suggesting limiting increases to some requests.

For example, limiting a $102,000 increase in legal services to $66,000, and limiting a $29,000 increase in building maintenance to $4,000.

Several organizations are asking for more town money.

People Plus wants $35,000 more in funds; Eldridge suggested an increase of only $3,300. Curtis Memorial Library wants nearly $90,000 more; Eldridge is suggesting a $40,000 increase.

The council will take up the budget again when it meets April 27.

Eldridge will submit a more formal municipal budget proposal May 1.

A budget will be adopted May 28.