WEST PARIS – Residents and other people are invited to comment on the proposed 2005 budget at a special town meeting Thursday.

“We have a preliminary budget done,” Town Manager Don Woodbury said Friday. He added that Thursday’s meeting will give residents and members of interested organizations an opportunity to ask questions, clarify budget requests or make new requests.

Woodbury said the preliminary budget is lower than the budget for fiscal year 2004, partly because of proposed cuts in areas such as buildings and equipment.

“The total budget last year was $1.5 million, and we’re looking at somewhere around 5 percent or so less than that,” he said.

Woodbury said selectmen will discuss possible budget changes after the public comment portion of the meeting.

The final budget proposal is expected to be completed by the end of January, he said. The annual town meeting will be the first Saturday in March.

Thursday’s meeting begins at 5 p.m. in the Town Office.