by Trish Rudder
The Town of Bath has made significant changes to managing the town’s finances that began in July 2024, the start of the fiscal year 2024-25.
Voicing a desire to become fiscally responsible, town officials voted to increase fees to operate the town and added a 1% municipal sales tax, all approved by the whole Bath Town Council. The proposed budget will reflect these changes, as follows:
–The proposed budget for Town of Bath of $984,667 is an increase of $145,854 or 17.4% over the last fiscal year 2025-26.
–The bulk of the town’s revenue comes from a projected property tax collection of $192,216.
Finance committee chair and Town Recorder Susan Webster said the budget is moving the town forward with a package that pays the bills.
Projected Revenue
Some of the larger projected revenue sources included an estimated $140,000 in refuse collection, $115,000 in hotel occupancy tax, $68,000 in business and occupation tax, $60,000 in municipal sales tax, $60,000 in rents, royalties and concessions, $45,000 in wine and liquor tax, $45,000 in excise tax on utilities, $42,000 on both police protection fees and street fees, and $40,000 on parking violations.
The estimated $6,385 in the coal severance fund will go toward town street paving, said town clerk Sharron Corrick.
Projected Expenses
The town’s largest expense is the $267,586 estimated cost for the police department.
The town police department recently hired a full-time officer and Police Chief Ron Gardener said he is reviewing two applicants for full-time police officer positions.
The town projects it will spend $215,625 on the garbage department, $158,530 on City Hall, $151,625 on Streets and Highways, and $57,500 on both Parks & Recreation and the Visitors Bureau.
Some of the other expenses include $25,000 for both street lights and street construction, $5,100 for police judge’s office, $5,000 for the city attorney and $5,000 for snow removal.
Levy rates begin July 1
The net amount to be raised by the levy of property taxes in the town is $192,216.
The rates for the two classes of real estate in the town were the same as fiscal year 2024-25.
Town officials approved the tax rate of 25.00 cents per $100 of assessed value for Class II properties inside the town limits.
Class IV properties, which includes all other property inside the town limits, will be taxed at a rate of 50.00 cents per $100 of assessed value.
The budget is to be formally accepted by the Bath Town Council at the Tuesday, April 15 meeting.
The budget goes into effect July 1 and ends June 30, 2026.
Property owners will see the approved tax rates on their new tax bills in July.
