PARIS – A worker at the Paris Public Library said Thursday that staffing and hours will be affected if its budget is not increased.

Mike Dignan, the only full-time worker at the library, said at the final public hearing of the Budget Committee that there are certain fixed costs, such as utilities, included in the library budget, and the flexible areas are in collections purchasing and staffing. Dignan said it would not make sense to reduce collections.

The library’s 2007 budget was $145,698, and the budget for 2008 calls for no change. The library had requested a $10,641 increase.

Dignan said the library will have to cut “a person and a half” from the five part-time staff positions and reduce hours without the increase.

Dignan also contested suggestions that the town is already served by the school libraries of SAD 17, saying they are meant to cater to students rather than the community at large.

“Just because we share the name ‘libraries’ doesn’t mean we’re interchangeable,” said Dignan. “The purposes and design are very different.”

As the budget has been approved by both the Budget Committee and selectmen, any changes to the library budget will have to be made at the town meeting.

Some budgets, including those of the police, fire and highway departments, have increased from last year due to rising fuel costs, according to committee member Barbara Payne. Reductions in other line items total approximately $120,000. The proposed $3.2 million budget reduces municipal expenses $60,332 from last year to offset increases in the county and SAD 17 expenses.

The budget eliminates part-time positions in the town office and highway department, as well as three reserve officer positions at the Police Department.

Changes to the proposed budgets can be approved at the annual town meeting, with the exception of debt service.