PARIS — The budget requested by Oxford County department heads would require raising the statutory tax levy limit, if passed, according to the county administrator.
Department estimates come to $5,885,946, up from the $5.6 million budget passed last year. Taxation would be offset by non-tax revenues, such as grants, of $1,717,760, but the county’s jail tax is $1,228,757, resulting in a projected 2012 tax levy of $5,396,943.
The highest tax levy allowed by statute is $4,932,242. Cole said that if cuts aren’t made, the budget committee would have to vote to raise the tax levy.
Cole said that while departmental requests haven’t increased much, non-tax revenue is down. In addition, county property devalued overall in the last year, bringing down the maximum tax levy. Last year, $4,953,289 was raised from taxes.
Requests for major increases include $40,000 for record preservation for the Oxford County Probate Court and $143,000 to replace console equipment for the Regional Communications Center in Paris.
A public hearing on the budget is set for Tuesday, Oct. 18, at 6 p.m. at the Oxford County Courthouse.
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