OXFORD — The Board of Selectmen have approved this year’s town meeting warrant with its 40 articles. The budget being presented to taxpayers will be $5,382,915, an increase of $121,750 or 2.3% over this year’s budget.

Municipal revenues are budgeted at $3,630,584, which is $390,520 higher than the current fiscal year, but still more than $113,00 below 2019’s pre-pandemic level.

Oxford’s budget allocation for Maine School Administrative District 17’s 2022-2023 budget is $4,067,760, down just about 1% from the current year. The referendum vote for SAD 17’s budget is scheduled for June 14 in all eight towns belonging to the school district.

Something new in next year’s budget is the addition of a standalone capital purchases line item, of $119,000. It includes $69,000 for seasonal equipment and implements and $15,000 for building repair for the Highway Department, $5,000 to be added to the Cemetery Department’s maintenance reserve account and $30,000 to be added to the Sewer Department’s waste water treatment facility reserve account.

Oxford’s Transfer/Recycling operations budget will increase by 13% over the current year, to $455,709. But recycling and transfer station revenues have been strong and are budgeted to continue offsetting higher operating costs.

The Police Department’s budget is set to go up by 6.8% and the Highway Department by 6.1%. Fire/Rescue will increase by 3.0%. Building expenses for the two departments will go down by 17.2% after Town Manager Adam Garland aggregated them from two into one combined budget.

Municipal expenses are expected to decrease by about $15,600 and General Assistance by about $12,000. Debt service will go down by more than $48,000 over the current year.

To learn more about the detailed budget, review the town meeting agenda and warrant and download the 2021 Town Report, go to the Town Meeting 2022 section of the town’s website, oxfordmaine.org/elections/town-meeting-2022.

 

Comments are not available on this story.