PARIS – The 9.63 percent increase to county taxpayers in the proposed 2007 budget was a bit excessive, county commissioners decided, so they have made some cuts.

The net effect of the budget means a 3.89 percent increase from the 2006 budget for taxpayers, or $216,995.

However several items have been added to a “revisit list,” and commissioners may add in the slashed items at a later date if they can accommodate them.

According to a message from Chairman Dave Duguay, making cuts in the budget was a difficult process.

He said commissioners have not used a revisit list before but it helps to prioritized spending.

“We understand. We hear the cries of the people,” Duguay said. “Taxes can’t keep going up at the rate they’re going.”

The commissioners will present the revised budget to the Budget Committee Nov. 14, who will finalize it. Then the county commissioners will vote to enact it.

The Emergency Management Agency is the department that has seen the most growth, therefore the budget reflects this. However most of the requests are covered by grant dollars, Director Scott Parker said. Also, the Maine Emergency Management Agency matches every dollar the county spends.

The EMA will not get the money for an office assistant position. Parker asked for $11,190 from taxpayers, which the Maine Emergency Management Agency would later match.

In the budget request, Parker had explained that the additional person would help deal with the growth in programs the EMA has encountered over the past year.

Commissioners have also slashed the EMA’s utilities services budget from $4,250 to $3,600.

Commissioners have also declined to fund a part-time position in the county treasurer’s office to help with an increased workload and compliance with new regulations, according to budget.

Several county agencies have requested funds to keep up with new technology. The county firefighters, the jail, the regional communications center and the Sheriff’s Office requested funds to upgrade their computers with additions to the Spillman software they use, which helps with emergency responses. The four departments had requested a combined $8,774.

The communications center had requested $10,696 for extra hours for a clerk, which was denied. Part of this clerk’s duties would be to program the new technology, center director James P. Miclon has said.

The center was also denied another full-time dispatcher to work during the busier call hours, due to more calls, according to the budget.

Commissioners also rejected $9,256 in funding for the Bethel Airport, $10,000 in funding for the Fryeburg Airport and $10,000 for help patrolling the Saco River.

Bethel Town Manager Scott Cole said he was upset to see the funds for the Bethel and Fryeburg airports get cut while commissioners continued to fund the Oxford County Regional Airport.

“It’s a perennial disappointment that the county ignores identical facilities but continues to support an airport in southern Oxford County,” Cole said.

Duguay said the Oxford airport is a county entity, which is why they fund it. They declined to support the Bethel and Fryeburg airports because the county doesn’t support them.

“If we didn’t own the Oxford County Airport, we wouldn’t support them either,” Duguay said.

All of the requests listed above have been placed on the revisit list, which means the commissioners may approve them at a later date.

In the revised budget, some expense increases were noted as well. The EMA will receive $169,264 because of recently obtained grant money. The jail has gotten an increase in personnel services of $1,720, and the Sheriff’s Office has obtained $37,841 in grants.

Other cuts in the 2007 requested budget include:

• $1,000 for the county commissioners to provide the county administrator with a new computer.

• $4,167 for Social Security.

• $597 for Maine State Retirement.

• $983 for deferred compensation.

• $28,290 for group insurance.

• $976 for workers’ compensation.