BRUNSWICK — The Brunswick City Council voted Tuesday in favor of spending $535,000 to buy two buildings on Potomac Street and considered a $4.5 million budget for next year.

Last month, the council discussed buying both 811 W. Potomac St., which is vacant, and 40-42 W. Potomac St., which houses the Brunswick Heritage Museum and Visitor Center.

The property at 811 W. Potomac belongs to the estate of Walter L. Engle and was slated for public auction before the council let the owners know of the city’s interest. The plan is to use it for the Department of Public Works and possibly for other expanded office uses.

In the public hearing, one person said he planned to attend the auction and the city deprived the public of a chance to buy the building, forcing the taxpayers to pay for it.

Councilman Ellis Burruss said the public had the same opportunity the city did to make an offer for the property at any time before the auction.

The contract price is $270,000.

The public works department is based at 600 Petersville Road on property with steep slopes. The property at 811 W. Potomac offers more than an acre of scarce level land, said Bob McGrory, the city administrator.

“This was a great opportunity for the city to purchase some flat ground,” he said.

Mayor Karin Tome estimated the development of more than 1,200 additional lots at Brunswick Crossing over the next several years, taking the city population from about 5,000 to 12,000. That will put further pressure on the public works and police departments to grow.

In March, the council tentatively agreed to buy 40-42 W. Potomac St. for $265,000. The plan is to lease it back to the Brunswick Potomac Foundation, which operates the museum. The museum and visitor center, which the city regards as a tourism and economic development centerpiece, has struggled financially. The foundation intends to buy back the building if possible.

Councilman Jeff Snoots was on vacation Tuesday. The remaining five councilmen voted to buy the two properties.

The five also voted to amend the fiscal 2016 budget to pay for them. Reserves are available to fund the purchases, McGrory said.

Budget talks begin

Next year’s $4.5 million proposed budget had its first public hearing Tuesday, and the council made some suggestions. Councilman Carroll Jones asked for some percentage of a cost-of-living raise to be included for employees.

The budget includes a 2.5 percent merit raise for civilian employees and a 2.5 percent step increase for police officers. The force has 12 officers now, and is budgeted to have 14.

Tome’s proposed city budget is 6.5 percent higher overall than this year’s, but proposes a drop in the tax rate from 46.2 to 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. A combination of increased income tax revenue, higher property assessments and new construction are expected to generate $221,300 more in tax revenue than this year, McGrory said.

The council will have public discussion of the budget in two more special meetings before it is scheduled to adopt a plan on June 14.

On May 18, the council is scheduled to set the tax rate and discuss the general fund. On June 3, the council is holding a special meeting to discuss the enterprise funds that apply to the public utilities.

Follow Patti Borda Mullins on Twitter: @FNP_Patti., May 10, 2016