AUGUSTA -- Residents -- and anyone else with thoughts on the proposed $51.3 million city and school budget -- have a chance to voice their concerns tonight.

A public comment session scheduled as part of Monday's City Council meeting is meant to collect residents' views on the budget, about a month before the expected final budget vote.

The budget, if approved by councilors as written, would result in a $20 increase in property taxes for the owner of a $125,000 home.

The budget could still change, however, as councilors are in the midst of reviewing the budget submitted by City Manager William Bridgeo and Ralph St. Pierre, Augusta's assistant city manager and finance director.

"This is a way for (councilors) to get some public comment on the proposed budget, to give guidance to the council, while they're going through their review," St. Pierre said.

The Board of Education already gave its approval to a $28.1 million school budget that cuts 18 positions.

The school budget is down 1.3 percent, or $375,000.

Superintendent Cornelia Brown said Augusta will get an increase in state General Purpose Aid of $588,000.

The city's proposed budget includes no staff cuts and is up 1.3 percent, or $677,500.

Major increases in the city budget include $310,00 more for salaries and benefits and $350,000 more for gas, diesel fuel, heating oil and electricity.

Additions to the budget include making a part-time planning assistant position full-time, in order to help take on additional land use review work spurred by the recent adoption of a new comprehensive plan, St. Pierre said.

Another change would add a part-time clerical position in the Police Department, primarily for record keeping. Now a police officer is involved in record-keeping for the department.

"This would free them up to do more law enforcement work instead of clerical work," St. Pierre said.

A similar clerical position in the Police Department was cut about five years ago.

The school budget, once the overall school and city budget is approved by councilors, would go to city residents in a referendum vote June 10. Previously, local voters didn't vote on the school budget, but a new state law requires school budgets to go to residents for a vote.

The city's tax rate of $16.70 would increase to $16.86 if the budget is approved as proposed.

Councilors are not scheduled to vote on the budget Monday. Bridgeo said he anticipates councilors could take a final vote on the budget June 2.

Councilors are also scheduled Monday to:

* Consider a rezoning proposal for part of the property at 254 Western Ave. Peter Anastos of Maine Course Hospitality Group of Freeport has proposed building a hotel there. The issue was tabled in order to give Anastos time to provide images of what the property would look like once developed; and

* Consider an ordinance change to remove on-site parking requirements for places of worship in the high-density residential zone.

Keith Edwards -- 621-5647

kedwards@centralmaine.com