OXFORD — The Budget Committee on Wednesday evening approved a $3.83 million municipal spending package for 2015-16 that includes more money for the police and fire departments.
For the second year in a row, the Police Department will add a patrol officer. A $116,683 increase over last year’s budget brings the total spending to $790,803. The position is being created through a two-year grant. The cost will be offset by $68,000 in outside funding. The position does not have to be retained when the grant expires, police Chief Jonathan Tibbetts said.
The Fire Department will see a $60,000 increase to $341,338, or 21 percent more than this fiscal year. The increase is driven by the creation of a full-time chief.
The town will use $60,000 set aside last year for repair work to the Welchville Dam, a project Town Manager Michael Chammings said could run the town about $400,000.
The overall budget is near that of 2014-15 because the town paid off $192,000 in debt. The payment reflects a major effort to decrease debt from over a decade ago when it secured a multimillion dollar bond for road repairs.
When adjusted for grants the town is due to receive, the budget will decrease by about 1 percent in 2015-16.
Yet to be factored in to the amount taxpayers will be asked to raise is the Oxford Hills School District assessment, which last year came to $3.29 million.
Selectmen are expected to finalize the budget at an upcoming meeting.
The annual town meeting is scheduled at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 6, at Oxford Elementary School.
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