MECHANIC FALLS — Budget Committee members Bonnie Payette and Ollie Emery told Town Council members Monday that they should look at less expensive ways to provide rescue and police services.

“There are services we could get for cheaper,” Payette said.

The No. 1 priority Payette had in mind was rescue services.

Town Manager John Hawley said the council was well aware of the situation and unless there is a turnaround in the numbers of volunteers, this might be the last year the town has a rescue department.

Emery questioned whether the town can afford its Police Department and suggested they find out what it might cost to have the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department provide coverage.

Hawley said a comparison of costs has been conducted in the past and the difference was negligible “if the comparison is apples to apples.”

“What do you want me to ask the county for?” Hawley said.

“Same coverage as Poland,” Emery said.

Hawley said Poland doesn’t have 24-hour coverage.

Council Chairwoman Nancy Richard said at a meeting in 2010 the idea of doing away with the local Police Department was discussed “and people said they wanted 24-hour coverage.”

Payette said her concern is that economic conditions aren’t improving; the state has cut back on its commitment to revenue-sharing.

“If we lose another $250,000, what we consider essential services might change,” Payette said.

Regional School Unit 16 Superintendent Tina Meserve and School Committee Chairwoman Mary Martin reported on the budget process.

Meserve said the committee will meet next week to consider a $20.4 million proposal. It’s a little lower than anticipated a week ago, now that a final figure for the increase in health insurance is known.

Meserve said a 5 percent increase in the budget was anticipated but the actual increase will be 2.5 percent. The effect would be a tax increase of $39 on a property with an assessed value of $100,000.

She said it appears the Legislature could add another $25 million to local school aid, so the impact on property taxes could be less than $39.

In other business, the council:

* Approved a plan for the Police Department to get bids for replacing the cruiser with an all-wheel-drive Ford Explorer.

* Approved raising the price for a transfer station tag from $5 to $10.

* Approved increasing the fee for nonresidents to get notary services at the Town Office to $5 a signature, up from $4.

* Set voting hours of 4 to 8 p.m. for school and town budget referendums on June 2 and 9, respectively.