PARIS – “Overall the town of Paris is in good financial condition,” auditor Lance Bean told selectmen Monday night.

Having prepared the financial audit for fiscal year 2003, Bean said that all of the amounts in the budget were “adequate and sufficient for a town the size of Paris.”

The only major project costing more than $300,000 in 2003 was the Route 26 project. The town’s general fund contains more than $528,000 that was appropriated at last year’s town meeting, but not expended.

Police Chief David Verrier presented bids on a new cruiser. In a 3-2 vote, selectmen accepted a bid from Augusta Ford for $19,989. The car will be ordered after the June town meeting, and paid for over four years.

Ripley and Fletcher of South Paris had a car on the lot for $19,997, which could have been brought up to town specifications for under $300. Selectmen William Merrill and Bruce Hanson agreed that since Augusta Ford was not given the option of making a bid on a car they had on the lot, it was unfair to them to consider the vehicle at Ripley and Fletcher.

Ripley and Fletcher made a bid of $21,468 on a car fully up to specifications. Selectman Raymond Glover said that he would prefer to buy local, but voted with Hanson and Merrill for Augusta Ford.

Town Manager Steve McAllister proposed that the town increase its mileage rate from 22.5 cents per mile to 30 cents per mile, in view of rising gasoline prices. Selectmen unanimously approved the change. The IRS authorizes municipalities to compensate drivers up to 39 cents per mile.

McAllister recognized the work of assistant foreman Bill Guy of the highway department in receiving a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. The grant, in the amount of $10,506.96, will reimburse the town for costs incurred during the Dec. 6-7 snowstorm.