PARIS — Oxford County commissioners on Tuesday enacted a $6.17 million budget for 2014.
The spending plan was adopted by the Budget Committee last month.
Even though the budget contains almost $273,000 more in expenses than last year, the amount of taxes required from Oxford County property owners, about $5.17 million, is the lowest it has been since 2011.
The commissioners budget does not yet include next year’s overlay account. County Administrator Scott Cole said the overlay would be calculated after taxes are committed.
The budget contains $137,500 for five new cruisers and $160,161 more in wages for the Sheriff’s Office.
The cruisers are part of the department’s vehicle replacement plan and the wage increase will cover a drug agent position the department created last year and the cost of two uniformed deputies assigned to the civil division. The cost of the civil officers is expected to be covered though service fees.
Commissioners have applied $460,000 from the county’s casino revenues to offset the impact on property taxpayers. Oxford County gets a cut from the slot and table game revenues at the Oxford Casino in Oxford. According to commissioners’ estimates, the county receives $13,846 a week in casino revenues, or approximately $720,000 per year.
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