Lewiston council faces choice: deeper tax cuts that cost eight jobs or higher levy; police take-home cars factor into debate

The Lewiston City Council spent its April 21 workshop wrestling with a difficult budget trade‑off: adopt a ‘tier three’ package that administration says would hold down tax growth but eliminate eight positions, or approve a higher tax levy and spare jobs.

Administrator Cainrath cautioned the council against notifying employees that their positions are at risk until there is “adequate support, firm support on the council,” saying such public notice would hurt morale. He told colleagues the city’s employment counsel had been consulted about notification and collective‑bargaining requirements.

Director Roy walked the council through the math linking proposed items to the consumer price index. He said the most aggressive package, including capital for police vehicles, would put the levy roughly 5.2–5.5 percentage points above the December CPI (3.3%), which under local rules would require a five‑vote supermajority to adopt. “That means we will be … over the CPI, which will require five votes,” he told the council.

Councilors pressed whether the police take‑home cruiser program increases or decreases pressure on layoffs. Director Roy and Administrator Cainrath said the choices are nuanced: approving the take‑home program keeps certain vehicle costs and operating expenses in the budget (an ongoing figure near $490,000), while declining the program would require buying replacement vehicles this year (one off estimate cited at $526,336), which also raises the near‑term budget. One add‑back figure presented was $439,836; another figure cited for outfitting and related items was $86,500 removed from changeover lines and shifted to forfeiture funds.

Sergeant Brown told the council the department is understaffed and that take‑home vehicles are a recruitment tool. The department reported roughly 42 sworn officers department‑wide and seven patrol officers on most nights; only one candidate is currently in the police academy and would not be on the road for many months.

Many councilors said they are reluctant to cut positions. Councilor Longchamp and others asked for time to examine line‑item alternatives; Councilor Najarian repeatedly urged aiming to keep the city’s operating increase near the Northeast CPI (3.3%). Multiple councilors said they do not yet have five votes for the tier three package, which would be needed if the chosen levy exceeds the CPI threshold.

The city attorney (reported through staff) explained that if the council fails to adopt a budget before the fiscal year concludes, the administrator’s final budget would be deemed adopted — effectively reverting to the original administrator proposal — an outcome councilors said would be undesirable for different reasons. Directors and councilors agreed to continue working on amendments and to hold an additional budget workshop this week.

What happens next: councilors asked finance and administration to provide more detailed line items and alternative options for cuts and amendments. No formal votes on tier three or layoffs were taken; administrators said valuation notices will go to property owners as scheduled but the mill rate will be set only after council action.

Ending: The council recessed and reconvened for its regular meeting; councilors scheduled a budget workshop to continue deliberations this week, and the administration said staff stand ready to assist councilors with proposed amendments.