AUGUSTA -- Budget committee members have finalized a draft budget for the next fiscal year, and the numbers may come as a surprise to Kennebec County residents.

Committee members Wednesday voted 7-2 to accept a county budget of $4.3 million.

Compared to last year's budget figure of $9.2 million, the proposal is "3 percent less than half" of last year's budget, Kennebec County Administrator Robert Devlin said.

Why so low?

The figure only accounts for the first six months of 2010. Kennebec County has decided to change the start of its fiscal years, from Jan. 1 to July 1.

"This was mostly done because the jail's fiscal year is now in alignment with the state's, and it makes more sense for the jail and the county to match," Devlin said.

Kennebec County's 2011 fiscal year will start July 1, 2010, meaning "we'll be doing this budget thing all over again in the spring," Devlin said.

Though municipal taxes for the first six months of the new year are also substantially lower, Devlin said increment amounts have been set for each community to pay on top of the regular tax. The increments can be paid in full or spread over five years.

For example, the proposed budget sets Augusta's municipal tax at $651,559, plus an additional $130,331 per year over the next five years.

"Regular property tax is due Sept. 1, as usual," Devlin said. "The increments are due Dec. 31 of each year, depending on how a town decides to pay."

The public hearings are Nov. 18 in Waterville and Dec. 2 in Augusta. A final budget will be decided by the budget committee at the Augusta hearing.

Meghan V. Malloy -- 623-3811, ext. 431

mmalloy@centralmaine.com