PARIS – At their recent budget workshop, Oxford County’s commissioners recommended denying Bethel airport’s request for $5,000, and rather than funding a second full-time victim-witness advocate, they supported hiring a part-time one.
Overall, the commissioners’ recommended changes reduced the $4.97 million budget by $87,204, decreasing the growth over last year’s budget to 11.9 percent rather than 14.5 percent.
The proposed 2006 budget will be sent by Nov. 1 to the budget advisory committee, which will review it and pass it back to commissioners. A public hearing on the county budget was held Oct. 12.
Scott Cole, Bethel’s town manager, said Wednesday, “If the county is going to be in the airport business, it ought to be in the airport business equitably or not at all.”
Oxford County Regional Airport received $25,000 from the commissioners.
Commissioner David Duguay said Thursday, “We own the Oxford County regional airport, and that is the one we’re obligated to fund each year as far as public transportation. I personally ask, where would you draw the line if you started funding other aspects of public transportation?”
Of the three airports in Oxford County, only the regional airport in Oxford is owned by the county. Fryeburg and Bethel airports are owned by the towns, and neither received money for 2006.
Cole said that in years past, Bethel’s airport, which costs about $60,000 to operate a year, received subsidies of $3,000, or more recently in 2004, $2,000. This is the first year the commissioners have cut funding entirely, he said, adding that last year the town’s request was turned down because it was considered late.
He said Bethel’s airport costs are covered with rental fees from hangars and an industrial building at the site, as well as from excise taxes on airplanes.
Officials of the district attorney’s office were not available to answer questions about the decrease in funding for a second full-time victim-witness advocate.
Duguay said he voted against funding a full-time advocate after looking at Aroostook County, which has six courts that employ one full-time advocate and two part-time ones. He said that if the district attorney’s office can show that its caseload warrants a full-time advocate, he would consider changing his mind.
Other cuts recommended by the commissioners included the following:
• $3,751, personal services for commissioners.
• $2,000, courthouse repairs and maintenance.
• $3,572, prison fuel.
• $500, Registry of Deeds office, Fryeburg.
• $1,314, personal services for the register of probate.
Social Security, Maine State Retirement System, group insurance and workmen’s compensation were reduced by a total of $19,575.
Revenue increases amounted to $45,000 from Registry of Deeds-West, Registry of Probate and miscellaneous.
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