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Bangor council approves downtown assessment and development budget; contract vote postponed
Summary
The City Council approved Order 26-209 to implement a special assessment for the Bangor Center Development District that will raise about $285,600 and adopt a $760,084 program budget; related votes on the district's financial plan and a contract with the Downtown Bangor Partnership were postponed to June 22 for budget clarity.
The Bangor City Council voted to approve Order 26-209, establishing a special assessment for the Bangor Center Development District that councilors said will raise roughly $285,600 and supports a proposed program budget of $760,084.
Councilor Falloon, who presented the order, said the assessment rate would be set at 70 cents per $1,000 of assessed value with an overlay of 0.2 cents per $1,000, and that the budget submitted by the Downtown Bangor Partnership includes line items for marketing, beautification, events and safety. The motion passed on a roll-call vote, 6–1.
Why it matters: the assessment finances downtown services and management that the council and downtown stakeholders say support small-business marketing, events and safety work. Some councilors warned that approving program budgets before the municipal budget is finalized could limit flexibility about how TIF and assessment revenues are allocated.
Debate and postponements: a separate public hearing and vote on the municipal development program and financial plan (Order 26-210) drew questions from councilors about timing and whether TIF or assessment funds could be repurposed; after discussion the council postponed that vote to its June 22 meeting. Councilor Mallor moved postponement earlier in the meeting, noting the city had not finished the budget process; that motion to postpone 26-210 passed 5–2.
The council also postponed authorization for the city manager to sign a management contract with the Downtown Bangor Partnership (Order 26-211) until June 22. City staff said the manager would have discretion on whether to execute a contract pending final budget clarification, but several councilors preferred to delay so the budget and program could be considered together.
On the record: Anne Krieg, director of community and economic development, explained the difference between downtown TIF funds and the assessment district: “The TIF is the captured added value...and then there's the assessment district [created by statute]...those funds go for the specific purpose of a downtown management corporation,” and said she would resend original district documentation to councilors who requested it.
Next steps: The council’s scheduled June 22 meeting will include reconsideration of the municipal development program, the management contract, and related budget details.
