Ellsworth’s top administrator has proposed outsourcing the city’s tax assessing services to a contractor, and eliminating two full-time city jobs, but some residents are criticizing the idea.

After hearing about the proposal this week from City Manager Charlie Pearce, and getting citizen feedback, the council decided to wait until after Nov. 4, when three new councilors are expected to be elected to the seven-member board. Current councilors Michelle Beal, Tammy Mote and Jon Stein all have expiring terms and are not running again.

Pearce said that the idea is to reduce city expenses and to improve services, but added that the idea of eliminating two positions and laying off the employees who hold them is a difficult one. Larry Gardner has served as Ellsworth’s city assessor for 25 years,

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