PARIS – The final decision on a $4.4 million budget proposed for Oxford County is expected Thursday.

Oxford County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. in the county building to vote on the budget, Administrative Assistant Carole Mahoney said.

Budget proposals from county department heads totaled $4.9 million for 2005. The commissioners and the Oxford County Budget Committee have so far reduced that number by more than 9 percent.

A request by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department for $186,492 to hire three new patrol deputies has proven to be the most contentious budget item.

The county commissioners voted to hire only one deputy. Their proposal was overturned by the Budget Committee Nov. 17 with a 5-4 vote. The committee approved spending $62,000 to hire all three deputies starting July 1.

Commissioners and Budget Committee members have pointed out that those numbers do not include benefits for the deputies.

Mahoney said the commissioners could on Thursday vote to overturn the Budget Committee’s decisions, but the changes would require approval by two-thirds of the Budget Committee members.

The budget, Mahoney said, has to be completed by Dec. 15.