PARIS — Angry with the increase in the proposed municipal budget, a standing-room-only crowd of more than 200 voters Monday hacked nearly $1.2 million from the proposed budget at the annual town meeting at the Fire Station on Western Avenue.

After four hours of debate, the $7.47 million proposal had dwindled to less than $6.3 million, dropping it below the current budget by more than $600,000.

“We’ll work with whatever amount (the voters) give us,” Town Manager Natalie Andrews said during the meeting.

Much of the attention centered on the Police Department budget, which was proposed to increase by 25% to $1.35 million. The main reason for the increase was a restructuring of the department by police Chief Michael Ward. That plan was backed by selectmen.

Most residents wanted no part of the increase. After a proposed cut to $1.2 million was defeated, a member of the audience made an amendment to cut the budget to $801,000, which would have funded perhaps five officers and a supervisor, barely enough for 24-7 coverage. One voter supporting the amount said the department was top heavy and that the police should be on the street, not in the office.

Resident Kathy Littlefield said according to her calculations that would have cut at least three patrolmen. She added that it would be the start of a “slow death” of the Police Department.

“It’s a huge detriment when our community is growing,” resident Nancy Drew said.

Skip Herrick, former police chief and former Oxford County sheriff, stressed that the $801,000 was “undoable” and “doesn’t cut it.”

After much discussion, that proposal was soundly defeated. Seeking a compromise between the two unsuccessful proposals, $1.15 million was offered, and it passed.

Signs of the contentiousness to come occurred on the first budget item: administrative services. Resident Scott Buffington, unhappy with the services he received at the Town Office, proposed cutting that budget by 20% to $643,000.

“I want them to take notice that this needs to be addressed,” Buffington said.

While one resident thought the cuts were vindictive, enough voters sided with Buffington to support the cut.

The largest cut occurred in the capital expenditures account where selectmen recommended $1.8 million.

Buffington again attacked that amount being proposed and moved to strike nearly $600,000 from the capital projects, which included $1 million for road reconstruction and other items such as a plow truck, vehicle purchases, maintenance and repairs.

Many residents feared the cuts would come from the paving projects, but it would be up to the selectmen and the town manager on what would get cut.

The proposed cut passed in a close vote.

Other areas that saw significant cuts were the contingency fund and a traffic study of Market Square.

The three proposed ordinance articles on the Planning Board, Fire Department Cost Recovery and Food Sovereignty all passed with little opposition.

The start of the meeting was delayed 30 minutes when the crowd overwhelmed the conference room at the Fire Station. They moved into the five-bay garage where some had to stand for lack of chairs.