WEST PARIS – Saturday’s annual town meeting ran smoothly with an assembly of about 110 residents approving a 2007 municipal budget of $1,064,337, which was in line with the proposed budget submitted by both the selectmen and the Budget Committee.

The voters also approved using $405,000 from state reimbursements and surplus to lower the final figure for taxes to be collected to $659,337.

According to Town Manager Donald Woodbury, the figure approved is $50,000 higher than the $1,014,337 approved in 2006 and he praised the selectmen and Budget Committee for the great job they did at attempting to hold the municipal budget as close as possible to last year.

“The selectmen and Budget Committee worked hard to keep the increase as low as possible,” Woodbury said, “so I feel it is a good budget that will serve the town’s needs well for the coming year.”

He did, however, state that the amount approved Saturday is the municipal budget only and does not include the town’s share of the education costs for SAD 17 or what will have to be paid out for the Oxford County tax.

As for separating out the major accounts that total about 75 percent of the budget, the Highway Department budget stands the highest at $382,000. The figure includes $151,000 for upgrading and paving the gravel part of the Tuelltown Road, $35,500 for the equipment account, $76,500 for snow removal, $70,000 for highways and bridges, $35,000 for tar, and $12,000 for other small projects that need to be completed.

The other major accounts are solid waste disposal at $129,780, town officer’s salaries at $93,500, insurance and legal fees at $82,280, fire department at $74,300, and social services at $31,060.

Accounts making up the remaining 25 percent are mostly accounts that are traditionally set by outside influences beyond the control of the town officials.

The all business was covered in about three hours and was moderated by the Woodstock Town Manager Vern Maxfield who is a veteran moderator having moderated town meetings in several area towns.