CAPE ELIZABETH – Cape Elizabeth’s preliminary municipal budget for next projects a 1.5 percent increase in the tax rate, according to the town’s Finance Committee.

Committee chairwoman Sara Lennon said the increase in the fiscal year 2012 budget would be the first increase in taxes for municipal services in the last few years. In fact, said Town Manager Mike McGovern, taxes have only increased by one half of one percent over the last three years.

“The total projected expenditure for 2012 is $8,880,334, which translates to $340,647 additional spending over the current year, allowing approximately 2 percent increases in both full-time and part-time payroll and some much-needed building repairs and equipment replacement,” Lennon said at the Jan. 10 Finance Committee meeting, according to a town press release.

The projected tax rate would add $6 per $100,000 valuation. In that case, the annual tax bill for a $300,000 home would increase $18.

One of the focuses of the upcoming budget is appropriating enough money to maintain municipally owned buildings and land, such as Fort Williams Park.

The park’s maintenance budget will increase by $80,000, to $100,000. The increase is part of the town’s future vision for the park and part of its commitment to addressing the $850,000 in capital and maintenance needs the Fort Williams Advisory Commission has identified at the park over the next four years.

The town is also undergoing an effort to raise funds outside of the annual budget appropriations to meet those needs. The advisory commission and Town Council are looking at a number of new sources of revenue, including new group use fees, such as charging the TD Bank Beach to Beacon 10K road race $25,000 to use the park this August, as well as the possibility of introducing food carts or renting out vacant rental units in the park.

“If we try to maintain our buildings, maintain Fort Williams and maintain a healthy workforce, we do need to make some adjustments this year,” McGovern said.

The town is expected to devote $825,000 to capital improvements for road maintenance, energy efficiency, building repairs and equipment replacement. The majority, $600,000, will be funded through the FY12 budget. The rest will be funded through the infrastructure account ($25,000) and from funds set aside in previous years ($200,000).

McGovern said over the past few years the town has fallen behind on its capital improvement needs because of tight budget constraints.

The largest capital improvement projects are expected to be $260,000 for roadway paving and drainage improvements throughout town, $140,000 to replace a 1970 road grader, $125,000 for improvements to the Thomas Memorial Library and $85,000 for new self contained breathing apparatus.

McGovern said department heads have another month to submit budget materials. Deliberations on the 2012 budget will begin in earnest in March.

He said town officials are keeping a close eye on the state budget numbers coming out of Augusta in order to know what to expect for school subsidy and state revenue sharing.

Until then, he said, the intent is to give residents a glimpse of what to expect.

“We are trying to get the word out early so residents know what to expect,” McGovern said. “The basic message, I think, is there are some things we need to do, but we also need to keep taxes reasonable. I believe the 1.5 percent increase is keeping the tax rate reasonable.”