PARIS — A $7.1 million municipal budget proposed for fiscal year 2015 is expected to head to the Budget Committee for discussion next week.

The overall budget is almost $84,400 more than proposed in FY 2014, but the increase is driven by an increase in the town’s share of the projected Oxford Hills School District budget.

The proposed budget, compiled by requests from the town’s department, has almost $39,000 less in expenses compared to last year, and projects a revenue boost of about $218,800 over last year’s take.

Reached by phone Wednesday, Budget Committee member Michael Risica said he was “frustrated” that increases in the school budget continued to drive the town’s expenses upward, despite the town’s efforts to limit its costs.

The town’s share of the school budget, according to the proposed budget, is expected to go up more than $123,000 to $2.72 million.

According to the proposed budget, significant savings appear to come from a $27,000 decrease in the amount it will need to repay debts, mainly for police, fire and highway department vehicles.

A smaller but notable decrease is in the Police Department budget, which is projected to drop from approximately $591,400 to $587,370, largely as a result of cutting overtime costs.

Last year, advocates of a controversial proposal to disband the department cited high costs as a primary reason to contract services with the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office. The proposal was defeated by a large majority at the polls in June 2013.

The Highway Department’s budget is reduced by more than $11,700, to $720,900, and the town is budgeting $7,000 less for General Assistance.

Other departments, however, are proposing increases, such as $15,500 for Town Office administration, around $6,700 for parks and recreation, almost $10,000 more for libraries, more than $17,300 for the Fire Department and a $16,377 increase in the cost of fire hydrants.

A call and an email to Budget Committee Chairman Vic Hodgkins for comment were not returned Wednesday evening. Town Manager Amy Bernard also could not be reached.

According to Risica, the Budget Committee is scheduled to discuss the budget Wednesday, April 9, at the Town Office.

Selectmen are expected to review the budget in coming months.

The recommendations of both groups will appear on the warrant for the annual town meeting in June.

pmcguire@sunjournal.com