PARIS – Two deputies and several thousand dollars have been whittled from what originally was a $4.9 million budget proposed for Oxford County.

The cuts have come during two workshops held by the Oxford County commissioners, the second of which was Wednesday.

Administrative Assistant Carole Mahoney said Wednesday that she had not calculated the total of the cuts, but she believed the commission had reduced the original budget proposal by more than 10 percent, or $500,000.

One area to see major reductions was the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. The commissioners rejected an $86,700 request for three new deputies. Instead, they agreed to pay for one additional deputy, to the tune of about $29,000.

Additional cost savings came out of that cut, Mahoney said, because of related reductions in anticipated Social Security, Maine State Retirement and group insurance payments.

Instead of honoring a request for a $2,060 raise for Sheriff Skip Herrick, Mahoney said, “They are giving him a 3 percent (raise) Jan. 1, plus an extra $2,000.”

Herrick’s current salary is $43,164, which means his total increase in 2005 will be $3,294, or more than 7.6 percent.

Each year, Mahoney said, most county employees get 3 percent raises. In 2005, however, some employees will see 5 percent raises or raises similar in style to Herrick’s. The changes are a result of a pay scale review that was completed by commissioners Jim Carey, Steve Merrill and Fred Kennard in executive session.

Chief Deputy Jim Davis requested his $37,099 salary be increased by $1,629. Instead, he will receive $1,500 on Jan. 1, and a 3 percent raise July 1, Mahoney said.

That would bring his total increase in 2005 to a minimum of $2,612, or more than 7 percent.

Register of Probate Tom Winsor will receive a 5 percent raise.

Jail Administrator Ernie Martin will receive $1,500 on Jan. 1, and a 3 percent raise July 1.

Register if Deeds Jane Rich was denied a $3,000 raise request. Instead, she will receive her regular 3 percent increase, her salary moving from $26,926 to $27,774 in 2005.

Rich appealed to the commissioners for a raise at an Aug. 17 meeting, pointing out that she was paid less than many registers with similar workloads across the state.

Kennard then said she would have to take the matter up with the budget committee.

On Wednesday, however, Mahoney said the commissioners set the salaries of county employees.

“The commissioners set the compensation scale, that’s the bottom line,” she said.

The budget committee will take its first look at the budget at 6 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the county building.