PARIS – The Oxford County commissioners made no arguments Thursday as they passed a $4.4 million budget for 2005.

“It’s unanimous. We are in favor of this budget as presented to us,” Commissioner Chairman Jim Carey said before the 3-0 vote.

The approved figure represents less than a 2 percent increase over last year’s budget of $4.3 million.

Commissioner Fred Kennard praised the Oxford County Budget Committee for its work during the budget process. “The one thing I really appreciate they did this year was a lot of research,” he said.

When submitted by county department heads in the fall, the 2005 budget requests totaled $4.9 million. That number was first reduced by commissioners, then the Budget Committee.

The most contentious item proved to be a request from the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department for three new patrol deputies, at a cost of $186,492 before benefits. On Oct. 27, the commissioners voted to hire only one deputy.

That proposal was overturned by the Budget Committee with a 5-4 vote Nov. 17.

The committee approved spending $62,000 to hire all three deputies starting July 1. Despite the difference of opinion, the commissioners on Thursday took no issue with the Budget Committee’s decision.

Chief Deputy Jim Davis was one of two people in the audience Thursday. After the meeting, he told the Budget Committee that his department had miscalculated the cost for the deputies.

As a result, he later explained, the total budget approved for the Sheriff’s Department – $864,579 – was $2,400 short.

Davis said he has worked with the county bookkeeper to compensate for the loss. He said the department will cut back on planned vehicle purchases, use a capital equipment account surplus in the 2004 budget to pay for some new equipment initially scheduled for purchase in 2005; and hope the hiring of three new people will cut back on overtime costs for next year.