LEWISTON — Proposed cuts of $800,000 to city spending might be a bit too much,  city councilors said Thursday night.

Fearing cuts to city maintenance and overtime budgets would hurt service, councilors will consider adding those line items back at their next budget workshop April 30.

“I hear staff saying they will keep their fingers crossed with these cuts, and calling them calculated risks,” Councilor John Butler said. “I’ve heard it said too many times that if anything goes wrong or if something needs repairs, there is literally no money for it. I mean, how close can you run your budget?”

No matter what, it would still add up to less spending for city government and a smaller share of property taxes for police, fire, public works and other city departments.

“It’s pretty good,” Butler said. “We were looking at a $1.15 increase a month ago.”

Councilors pushed a handful of capital projects and purchases off of the city’s General Fund spending plan and on to the fund balance last week.

Those cuts would have amounted to a 10-cent cut in Lewiston’s property tax rate for city services. Combined with a 48-cent increase in the Lewiston School Department’s tax rate and a cut in county taxes, Lewiston’s tax rate would increase by 34 cents per $1,000 of property value.

But Councilor Mark Cayer requested deeper cuts, calling for reductions in overtime and maintenance budgets.

Finance Director Heather Hunter said those reductions amounted to a 23-cent cut in the city’s property tax rate, and a 1.8 percent cut in spending for government. Combined with the school and county budgets, it would amount to a 22-cent property tax rate increase per $1,000 of value — a $33 increase in property taxes for a $150,000 home.

It was too much for Councilors Butler, Donald D’Auteuil and Craig Saddlemire.

“We’re hearing from staff that we are hoping we can absorb those cuts,” D’Auteuil said. “We are hoping, hoping, hoping. That’s too much for me.”

Barrett said the cuts would not cut services, but would not be easy to do. His staff agreed. Public Works Director Dave Jones said they wouldn’t be easy cuts to accept, but his staff could make them work.

“If you ask me if I’m comfortable, I’ll say no,” Jones said. “I’m not comfortable, but I’m not paid to be comfortable. I’m paid to manage the resources that are given to me to try and do the job you want me to do. We do that the best we can.”

Councilors agreed to look at a range of options at their April 30 meeting, with tax-rate cuts ranging from 23 cents to 27 cents. Councilors will also consider hiring an economic development assistant at that meeting.

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