Mayor Morse presents FY2027 budget proposing $62.3 million in tax needs and an estimated tax‑rate hike

Mayor David Morse on April 6 presented the City of Westbrook’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget to the City Council at Westbrook High School, outlining municipal and school spending needs that together would require $62,253,369 in property taxes. Morse said the proposal reflects rising costs for goods, services and labor and includes several staffing adjustments and capital‑planning measures.

The mayor said proposed municipal expenditures total $39,088,502, with proposed municipal non‑tax revenues of $21,888,623 and municipal tax needs of $17,199,879. Proposed school expenditures for Pre‑K through grade 12 total $57,871,667, with school non‑tax revenues of $23,129,659 and school‑related municipal tax needs of $35,404,516. Together, the two sets of figures yield the $62.25 million in property tax need the council is asked to consider.

Morse detailed projected Tax Increment Financing (TIF) receipts of $7,235,128 and said the Cumberland County assessment for FY2027 is estimated at $2,413,846, a $265,646 (12.37%) increase over the prior year. "This jaw‑dropping increase in our county tax assessment is a direct result of the political gamesmanship playing out across our nation, and local taxpayers (those least able to afford it), are being made to pay for it. Quite literally," Morse said.

On household impact, Morse said the estimated tax‑rate effect would be an increase of $1.30 per $1,000 of assessed value, which he said would amount to roughly $463 for the owner of a single‑family home at the city’s median assessed value of $355,160. He emphasized the estimate depends on final valuation and the Assessor’s calculation and that final numbers will be set after budget adoption and certification of assessed values.

The mayor described two staffing decisions in the municipal portion of the budget. He denied a request to add an Equipment Operator 1 (EO1) position this year while approving a nine‑month‑funded Operations Supervisor position in Public Services to provide on‑site supervision during the coming seasons. Regarding the Fire Department, Morse said the administration temporarily permitted hiring up to four certified paramedic applicants in anticipation of retirements; ultimately one extra hire materialized, and the budget includes funding to make the department’s temporary authorized strength of 47 permanent.

Morse also highlighted efforts to coordinate costs with the School Department, including a pro‑rated community services contribution of $121,500 for athletic field maintenance and the City resuming twice‑annual sweeping of school parking lots at no pro‑rated labor charge. He said staff have worked to identify efficiencies and to delay capital allocations until projects are ready and justified.

Next steps: Council referred the proposed FY2027 budget to the Finance Committee for review and deliberation, with multiple Finance Committee meetings scheduled through April and a first reading planned for a special council meeting on April 27 and a second and final reading on May 4, 2026. The final tax rate will be set later by the City Assessor and will depend on the outcome of the school budget referendum and final valuation figures.