MEXICO — Selectmen and the Budget Committee continued work on a revised 2013-14 budget Wednesday night, recommending $10,000 for economic development.

About $8,000 of it is for the town’s share of an independent study on ways and costs for Mexico, Rumford and Dixfield to share or merge services.

Town Manager John Madigan said the cost to Mexico could be less if only Rumford and Mexico explore merging.

“Everyone is in agreement that someone from outside the area can look at details to get a report with just the facts and no bias,” Madigan said.

The budget is being revised because voters defeated all but three articles of the proposed $2.98 million spending plan June 11.

In that budget, $3,000 was marked for economic development. On Wednesday, selectmen added another $7,000 and left no money for the River Valley Chamber of Commerce, which had asked for $1,000.

The board previously recommended against funds for the River Valley Growth Council.

Other recommendations made Wednesday night were:

* Cutting $1,000 from the Mexico Public Library account.

* Cutting $500 each from the reserve accounts for a townwide revaluation, computer costs and demolishing dangerous buildings.

* Increasing the debt service account by $2,132. Madigan said the increase from $346,083 to $348,215 is the result of the federal sequester that reduced the amount of subsidized interest on town loans from the federal government.

On Tuesday, selectmen recommended cutting $12,000 from the Police Department reserve account and $500 from the Mexico Fire Department account.

Voters will go to the polls from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 30 to act on the revised budget articles. If any article does not pass, state law requires the town to spend according to the a 2012-13 budget.

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