PARIS — Residents expressed outrage and frustration at the proposed $51.6 million Maine School Administrative District 17 budget during the Select Board meeting Thursday.

Board members did not disagree. In fact, no one spoke in favor of the budget, which will be sent to voters June 11.

Chairman Christopher Summers said the spending plan for 2024-25 includes a “$2 million add-on” for deferred maintenance. However, no specific project was designated.

The district includes Paris, Norway, Oxford, Hebron, West Paris, Otisfield, Waterford and Harrison.

According to Town Manager Natalie Andrews, if the budget passes as proposed, Paris’s share  will increase by $802,508, or 22.84%, which includes the extra $2 million.

“I shouldn’t have to decrease my budget to compensate for theirs,” Andrews said. “I need to get our roads done. I still have to pay our employees. I have departments that I have to fund as well.”

“Something has to change,” Selectman Scott McElravy said. “They’re pushing people out of their homes.”

A major concern was how the $2 million capital reserve was added to the budget. It offered few details and no specifics for how it would be spent and where.

Selectman Michael Bailey reminded residents that the school district does not always carefully spend taxpayers’ money. He brought up the double-wide portable classroom purchased last year for Otisfield Elementary School for $480,000, plus an additional $84,000 for a wheelchair ramp.

Residents said they were worried how they and their neighbors will afford to stay in their homes.

“What can we do?” one asked.

The Select Board encouraged voters to reject the school budget.

“Please, please, please, show up on June 11 and vote this down,” Selectman Matthew Brackett said. “It won’t shut the schools down. It reverts back to this year’s budget. It’s not going back to the Stone Age.”

“Voting down the school budget is not the apocalyptic scenario many people may be concerned about,” Summers said.

In other business, selectmen approved purchasing a new police cruiser to replace one that was wrecked May 6 after being stolen by a suspect, who was chased by police and involved a shootout.

The Dodge Ram will be purchased from Commander Fleet in New York and will be road ready when it arrives in about two weeks. Minus insurance payment, the new cruiser will cost just under $40,000, which will be financed for two years.

Town Manager Andrews announced Sgt. Allen Coffin, one of 11 officers placed on administrative leave pending review in the May 6 shootout, passed all the requirements to return to work and did so Monday.

The board renewed a liquor license for the Paris Hill Country Club.

The Maine Department of Transportation will install a rumble strip this summer along Route 26, north of town, from where the speed limit increases to 55 mph to the West Paris town line.

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