DIXFIELD – Selectmen and the Finance Committee eliminated one of four police officer positions during Monday night’s advancement of the proposed 2008-2009 municipal budget.

Both boards narrowly decided to cut the proposed Police Department budget by nearly $53,000, a figure that includes salary and benefits. Motions to cut the position were made by Selectman Jim Desjardins and Finance Committee member Carol Greene.

Town Manager Tom Richmond said he plans to contact the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office to tell it that additional coverage for the town may be requested if voters approve the recommendations at the May 22 annual town meeting. With the four-officer department, the town has 24-hour police coverage. If the department is reduced to three officers, one shift will not be covered.

Chief Richard Pickett could not be reached for comment.

Selectmen and the Finance Committee restored a $20,000 cap to the social service agency line, which had been cut to zero. However, none of 12 related requests were assigned a dollar figure. Instead, voters will decide at the town meeting how much, if any, money would go to each.

The agencies include Androscoggin Home Care and Hospice, River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Seniors Plus, the Hope Association, Western Maine Veterans, and the Greater Rumford Community Center.

Also under the ax was the River Valley Growth Council, which had requested $10,000, and Black Mountain of Maine, which has asked for $1,000. Selectmen recommended against both, while the Finance Committee recommended funding for Black Mountain.

The town has been grappling with how to devise a budget that could pass at town meeting, but also cover increased expenses for snow removal, which is about $30,000 above funds budgeted for this year, and high fuel and heating oil, while not boosting the tax rate.

The tax rate for the $1,996,217 fiscal 2008 budget is $29.75, Richmond said. A property revaluation was just completed. Usually that results in one-third of property owners paying more, one-third the same, and one-third less.

If all articles are passed as selectmen recommend, voters will approve a $1,957,613 budget. If voters approve articles as recommended by the Finance Committee, the figure would be $1,928,475.

Richmond said about $3,000 was built into the proposed budget to cover the costs of a tax anticipation note he believes the town will have to borrow during the next fiscal year. He said the surplus, at about $450,000, is not enough to cover expenses as they come due.