PARIS – Oxford County commissioners took it on the chin Tuesday when Rumford Selectman Eugene Boivin criticized the way budget information is presented.

Boivin said he had a “very hard time” following a budget update he requested in December. The way the information is presented, he said, over several pages, makes it hard to compare with last year’s budgeted amounts and to compare percentages with dollar amounts.

“It’s very confusing to deal with,” Boivin said. He also questioned what appeared to be a total of $60,000 in overdrawn line items.

Commissioner Steve Merrill agreed that the budget printout was confusing.

“Maybe we can find another program that works better for us,” Merrill said.

Boivin suggested the software program used for Rumford’s municipal expenses, called Northstar Excell. “I think that would make it much easier to deal with if it’s all on the same page,” he said.

In other matters, commissioners acknowledged receiving a gracious letter from Dr. Lonnie Lauer, former physician at the Oxford County Jail.

Lauer’s job was replaced this past budget season by a contract with Allied Resources for Correctional Health, which will provide nurses around the clock to dispense medications to inmates.

Despite the fact that his job was eliminated, Lauer wrote to Jail Administrator Ernie Martin, thanking him for his support over the years.

Lauer, who has a practice in Bridgton, had served as the on-call jail doctor for the past 24 years. He authorized prescriptions by phone and the guards dispensed the medications.

Lauer, who was paid $31,900 last year, wrote that he hopes the county will be able to save “loads of” money with the new health care provider, which will be paid $38,500 a year.

“The new group will be able to offset their cost increases by avoidance of the (emergency room), X-ray, and lab by using their own sources other than Stephens Memorial Hospital. Having medical personnel available at the jail on a daily basis will be a very positive step for the Oxford County Jail,” Lauer wrote.

Lauer said the number of narcotic and cocaine addicts at the jail has risen significantly over the years, as compared to acute alcohol intoxications.

“Without medical personnel available in the jail and not being able to respond timely, I found it necessary to utilize the ER to medically triage some inmates,” he wrote.

“We did a great job with what we had and the conditions in which we worked,” said Lauer. “And, I know for a fact that we had a positive impact on the lives of some of the inmates.”