PARIS — As the Budget Committee finishes up work on the 2011-12 budget, some numbers aren’t adding up and a call has been made for public input in the process.

At a Board of Selectmen meeting Monday, resident Kathy Richardson commented on how the public hearing on the budget set for April 22 is a presentation of the budget without any chance for input from the public.

In the past, the budget hearing has been a presentation of the Budget Committee’s work, which would go to voters at town meeting in June. There is no chance to change the budget after the hearing until town meeting, when residents can vote on changes.

Richardson suggested that the process be changed so the committee could take input from the public before writing up a final budget for town meeting.

Selectman Ted Kurtz agreed. He said the hearing should come before the final decision is made. “I guess the way they do it doesn’t make much sense to me,” Kurtz said.

Selectman Jean Smart agreed.

“The Budget Committee, like every other committee in town, they’re there to serve the people,” Kurtz said. “Now they just hand out a fiat.”

On Wednesday, Kurtz said he had no interest in trying to force the committee’s hand, but he said he would suggest to the committee that it change the process in the future. “I think it’s pretty well set up for this year.”

At Monday’s meeting, Kurtz pointed out a discrepancy in the Fire Department budget from last year and the department’s spending plan on a committee worksheet. Selectmen previously voted to ask for a no-increase budget to reduce the strain on taxpayers.

The worksheet showed the Fire Department budget at about $325,000 for 2010-11, more than $50,000 more than the $273,000 approved at the 2010 town meeting.

Kurtz said that amount had been taken from the Pine Street Fire Station fund, an insurance payment from the collapse of the old fire station, to help pay for firefighters’ per diem wages.

As the Budget Committee works to create a budget that is the same amount as last year, the figure including money from the fire station fund is being used as the Fire Department budget. Kurtz said the $52,000 not included in last year’s budget shouldn’t be included this year.

“We’re talking about flat-lining the budget as it actually was last year,” Kurtz said Wednesday.

Town Manager Phil Tarr was not available for comment Wednesday.

Selectmen will attend the Budget Committee workshop at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Town Office. The public is welcome to attend but only as an audience to the Budget Committee’s discussion.

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