PARIS — Selectmen opted to not take action Tuesday night on the projected $40,000 budget shortfall for the Police Department and will wait until June town meeting to deal with the issue.

Town Manager Vic Hodgkins said the projected shortfall is because a school resource officer with health insurance was not budgeted and the town’s 11.25 percent insurance premium increase for 2017.

“As we were going through the budgeting season, we weren’t budgeting for (a school resource officer)” who has health insurance, he said, adding he’s not sure why it wasn’t budgeted.

Board Vice Chairman Scott Buffington suggested the police budget could have been underbudget because it was on the chopping block at the June 2016 town meeting.

Budget Committee acting Chairman Rick Little agreed and blamed previous police administration for the discrepancy.

“I am a little concerned with that kind of play with numbers,” Buffington said. “I think we should really watch the (Police Department) budget and not add any money to do it at this point.”

Hodgkins said he and Police Chief Hartley “Skip” Mowatt have weekly budget meetings to discuss the upcoming spending plan. Former interim Police Chief Jeff Lange crafted the 2016 budget. 

Hodgkins said the issue could be addressed at the Jan. 9 special town meeting by moving more surplus funds into contingency. If selectmen don’t want to do that, they can set another special town meeting or wait until the annual town meeting in June.

Selectman Kathy Richardson wondered about the benefits of waiting until June to deal with the issue.

“What I want to prevent is health insurance not being paid,” she said.

“It will be paid,” Hodgkins said. “We will overspend the budget as needed and find a fix for it down the road.”

Jamison and Buffington wanted to wait until June to see how much the gap will be for the Police Department.

“I feel like we’ve got to do a big ‘ole patch here Jan. 9,” Jamison said, referring to special town meeting, which deals with overdrafts and allocating surplus money. “I would just as soon hold off on another patch until we get through (this). Like Scott said, let’s live with our budget we have now.”

In other business, selectmen unanimously:

• Agreed to suspend the town’s membership with the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce until the newly formed Economic Development Committee creates a plan to market the town of Paris;

• Set the charge for the Economic Development Committee to promote growth in businesses and residents in town, along with three-year terms for its five members; and

• Issued a one-day, once-a-month liquor license for the next six months for  AMVETS Post 777 to coincide with the previously approved Texas hold’em tournaments.

In his town manager’s report, Hodgkins announced:

• The town will not pursue the climate adaptation plan for Paris Utility District as part of the stormwater separation project funding. The town would have been granted $20,000 in principal loan forgiveness once the plan was completed, if it paid for the Paris Utility District’s plan. But climate adaptation plan bids are hovering around $20,000.

• He sent 97 foreclosure notices, which is down from last year’s 122 notices.

• Town Auditor Bill Hall will be at the Jan. 9 special town meeting and selectmen meeting.

• Almost all employees have direct deposit, which will save the town roughly $1,000 each year on checks.

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