OXFORD – Requests are increasing each year for town funding from social service agencies. At the same time, voters are giving less and less at town meeting.

“It’s a trend,” said Dennis Gray, director of the United Way of Oxford County.

The trend has shown itself in the giving of the three largest towns in the Oxford Hills, Norway, Paris and Oxford.

Oxford voters approved $14,000 at their town meeting for social services, despite total requests of $35,559. Paris voters raised only $5,000 this year, despite requests totaling $38,028.

Norway voters were in a more giving mood, agreeing to raise $31,900 for the agencies, which had requested a total of $38,323.

In the 2000 Census, Paris went above Norway in population for the first time, with a population of 4,793, said Town Manager Steve McAllister. Oxford is the third largest town in terms of population.

In a recent memo to selectmen, Oxford Town Manager Mike Huston said he used a formula based on the amount of each agencies’ request to determine how to spread the $14,000 around.

Community Concepts Inc., for example, had requested $7,920, but received $3,804. Tri-County Mental Health requested $3,960, but received $1,902. Abused Women’s Advocacy Project requested $1,500, but received $720.

Huston did not fund agencies that have not been funded in the past. “This seems to be the fairest method to be sending out checks,” he said of the formula he used.

In Norway and Paris, town-appointed committees meet after town meeting to determine how social service agency funds are allocated. Both committees have not yet completed their work.

McAllister said the $5,000 appropriated this year by Paris voters compares to $10,000 for the previous two years, and $20,000 in 2000-2001. Requested amounts from the agencies have increased from $30,600 in 2000-2001 to this year’s $38,028.

ggeraghty@sunjournal.com

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