OXFORD – Town meeting voters approved a $3.1 million budget in quick order Saturday.

“What time is it?” asked meeting moderator Ronald Kugell after less than 40 of the town’s 3,100 registered voters showed up at Oxford Elementary School to act on the 34-article warrant in less than 15 minutes.

The record-breaking speed of the town meeting action was completed after Henry Jackson motioned to accept a number of the articles, including budget articles eight through 20, as block votes, meaning only one vote had to be taken for the 12 articles.

Town Manager Michael Chammings said after the meeting that the quickness of the meeting, which was less than the previous year’s 20-minute record, showed voters were satisfied that the town had presented the best budget despite bad economic times. The town has been maintaining a flat budget for the past several years. The 2010 fiscal year operating budget represents a decrease of $53,219 or 1.6 percent from the current budget.

The budget has been decreased because of several issues, including the acceptance of a grant to pay for the town’s share of a drug agent and personnel turnover at the transfer station, Chammings said earlier in the week. Additionally, $20,000 was saved by not paying full health benefits to family members of employees, and $7,000 was saved by deciding not to give money to service providers who have traditionally requested help from the town.

On Saturday, voters appropriated $456,486 for the Police Department; $454,506 for the administration account and $240,441 for the Fire Department.

Voters also appropriated $500,747 for the Highway Department; $206,505 for the Rescue Department; $53,301 for the Recreation Department and $219,121 for the Transfer Department. They approved the library’s request for $28,173; also, $43,092 in the public safety building account and $390,000 for capital improvement projects.

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