RUMFORD – A new method for the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office and Maine State Police to share coverage of Oxford County may begin as soon as January.

Sheriff Wayne Gallant, attending Tuesday’s Oxford County commissioners meeting held in Rumford, said the work toward a shared-resource agreement, known as call-sharing, will begin this morning with a meeting of Jim Miclon, head of the county’s Regional Communication Center, Dane Tripp, chief deputy, and Lt. Walter Grzyb, troop commander for Oxford, Androscoggin and Cumberland counties.

“The people don’t care if a brown or blue cruiser shows up,” said Gallant of when residents call for police assistance. “This will better serve the people of the county.”

Planned is a schedule that would have sheriff’s deputies and state troopers covering specific areas of the county at the same time. Now, troopers and deputies are responsible at alternate times, a system that sometimes slows investigations.

Gallant said Oxford County is divided into four zones. That number could be reduced to two as part of the tentative call-sharing plan. If that happens, Gallant said two deputies and two state troopers would patrol each zone simultaneously.

“With shared coverage, we’ll have a better working relationship,” Gallant said.

Commissioner Steve Merrill said sharing the same territory at the same time by officers from both agencies should improve reports and paperwork.

“This will benefit the citizens with more continuity,” added Commissioner David Duguay.

Gallant also plans to begin holding periodic joint meetings of the two law enforcement agencies next year to improve working relationships and to share information.

In other matters at Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners agreed to use $112,000 to offset the county tax levy. The money comes from funds previously voted on to be moved from the undesignated fund account into the capital building reserve account.

The move was made to keep the total amount to be raised by tax levy within the state tax cap percentage.

If the Budget Advisory Committee wants to keep the money where it is, it must vote to do so by a two-thirds vote. Otherwise, the 2008 county budget will be $4,144,469.

Also, Scott Parker, head of the county’s Emergency Management Agency, said Homeland Security grant requests will include generators for SADs 44 and 39. Installation of generator packages will enable designated schools in each district to provide public shelters in emergencies.

Previous Homeland Security grants outfitted SADs 43 and 55 with shelter capability. Parker said next year’s grant will request funds for SAD 21.