PARIS — Members of the Budget Committee discussed how they trimmed what could have been a steep increase in the mill rate at a public hearing Tuesday, but the question of how the town will pay up next year was raised.

Budget Committee Chairman Vic Hodgkins said the committee faced a $2.90 increase in the mill rate when it first got the budget. That included a $200,000 increase for SAD 17 and $256,000 increase in the town’s budget, as well as $509,000 in capital improvements.

Through some trimming and use of reserve and surplus accounts, the committee shaved the mill rate increase down to around $1, saving homeowners almost $200 on a $100,000 property.

Some residents, however, wondered aloud whether drawing from reserve accounts now could hurt the town in the future.

“What effect is that going to have?” Road Plan Committee Chairman Robert Jewell asked. “You can only keep taking so long.”

Selectman Ted Kurtz predicted a “perfect storm” for the town, with non-tax revenues projected to drop by $100,000 next year and the town still facing the costs.

Hodgkins said the committee would deal with that next year. “We will address it next year to the best of our ability,” he said.

Peter Kilgore of the Budget Committee, who first proposed limiting the mill rate increase to $1, said the committee’s responsibility was to create a 2012-13 budget. “We cannot worry about the next budget,” Kilgore said.

The road improvement plan was also discussed at the hearing. Former Budget Committee Chairman Forrie Everett urged residents and selectmen to listen to Road Committee’s recommendations. “Let the Road Committee do what it’s got to do,” he said.

Everett said he lives on Ryerson Hill but has been in Florida recently. He said when he brought his car up recently, the road had already damaged his car. “I’m speaking for most of the people on Ryerson Hill Road who wanted to come, but their vehicles broke down.”

Voters will have two options for funding road improvement in June. The plan recommended by the Road Committee and the Board of Selectmen calls for $513,000 for road repairs in the 2012-13 budget. The Budget Committee recommended $400,000 to keep taxes down.

Jewell said either way, the town will get to work on improving roads. “At least the town will get in the habit of spending more on the roads.”

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