WEST PARIS – This year’s municipal budget is set at $1,100,591, which is $29,632 less than 2008.

The spending proposal, which covers Jan. 1 to Dec. 31, was put together by selectmen and the budget committee.

“We were able to make some cuts in our capital reserve accounts and hold the line on most other areas,” Town Manager John White said.

“We would like to have been able to cut more but some areas, such as insurance cost and increases in materials like tar and other road maintenance needs, are out of our control.

At least we were able to stay away from any large increases in general areas, and the selectmen and budget committee are happy we were at least able to keep the municipal budget from going up.”

Although municipal spending is expected to be lower, White said the final budget figure will likely be higher than last year, when assessments for SAD 17 and Oxford County are set in the spring. Those budgets cover the period of July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010.

“I don’t have any idea as to what the school and county figures might be as I have not received any estimates from that as of yet,” White said.

Voters will decided on the municipal budget at the annual town meeting Saturday, March 7.