PARIS — The 2011-12 municipal budget approved by the Budget Committee is the same as this year’s in taxation and reserve account expenses.

Budget Committee Chairman Vic Hodgkins cleared up confusion about the proposed budget and the total combined amount of $3,396,184, which is $2 less than last year. Last year, he said, $3,346,186 was approved through taxation, with another $50,000 drawn from a reserve account to pay for per diem firefighter wages.

In all, voters approved $90,995 for per diem wages at the July 26 meeting. The sum of $40,995 came from taxes and the other $50,000 from reserve funds.

This year, firefighter wages were built in, and taxed expenses came to $3,346,184. Another $50,000 to help pay for a $180,000 plow truck will be drawn from an expense account.

“If this road map is followed, you will have a flat-line budget,” Hodgkins told a small group of Paris residents in the room. That means it will be the same amount as this year.

Hodgkins said the intent of the committee was to keep the total raised through taxation at the same level. “We did, and we’re proud of our work.”

He said there was concern some could misunderstand the $3,396,184 as coming from taxation, with an additional $50,000 from a reserve account.

Town Manager Phil Tarr assured the committee the warrant would be written carefully to avoid that misconception.

Tarr discussed some of the changes in this year’s budget, including keeping per diem firefighter wages, a system he said “has worked fabulously.”

“This has been a very effective, cost-saving public safety issue that everybody supports,” Tarr said. He said firefighter response times have improved in the past year.

He also said the town had a solution to the loss of the Allen Hill Animal Shelter in Oxford. Animal Control Officer Robert Larrabee told Tarr that Responsible Pet Care in Norway, traditionally a cats-only shelter, is willing to house dogs overnight while Larrabee finds their owners.

This will save Larrabee a long drive to the shelter in Lewiston and save money on Larrabee’s mileage for the town.

Tarr said there was concern the town would have to dip into surplus to pay for higher animal control costs, but that won’t be an issue now.

There were no questions or comments from Paris residents.

The annual town meeting is set for Saturday, June 18, with the municipal election on Tuesday, June 14.

treaves@sunjournal.com

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