Oxford Town Manager Adam Garland at the public meeting entry of the town’s office at 133 Pottle Road, where the 2024 annual town meeting will be held. Nicole Carter / Advertiser Democrat

OXFORD — Oxford selectmen met at a rescheduled business meeting last Thursday, with a reminder that this year annual town meeting will be held at Town Office instead of Oxford Elementary School. The meeting will start at 10 a.m.

Town Manager Adam Garland said if the parking lot is filled, arrangements have been made for voters to park next door at Tri-County Mental Health Services, located at 143 Pottle Road.

The overall 2024-25 municipal budget residents will vote on is $6,296,368, a jump of 10% over the previous year. Of the overall $581,000 General government ($137K); police department ($159K); and fire/rescue department ($94K) account for the highest increases.

General assistance will more than double from last year to $14,256 but will be aligned with previous years: $12,850 was budgeted in 2022.

Spending will be up all around in the coming fiscal year, which starts July 1.

Selectmen are seeking to add $1 million to Oxford’s capital investment accounts, after appropriating just $119,000 and $50,000 in 2023 and 2023, respectively. Expenditures include a new police cruiser ($60K); a mini-pump firetruck ($300K); a transfer station baler ($170K); and $250K for emergency repairs to several roads, including Rabbit Valley Road which has been significantly damaged during several storms.

The county assessment is up 34.7%, or $165,648. Oxford’s contribution to Maine School Administrative District 17’s annual budget will also see a steep increase, going from $4.37 million last year to $5.34 million.

SAD 17’s overall operating budget, with an additional $2 million capital reserve request, comes in at $53.6 million.

“Selectmen feel that an appropriation of 5.3 million, an increase of $970K for Oxford, including a district-wide ask for $2 million in capital improvements is too large,” Garland told the Advertiser Democrat. “It’s too much in one year. The board encourages the townspeople of Oxford to vote it down and go back to the drawing board.

“Oxford supports its school system and the need for the district to take care of its infrastructure … would it not make more sense to seek a bond to make those corrections?”

SAD 17 estimates, with adjustment for inflation, that it will take $20 million over the next 10 years to make improvements just to its elementary schools. Oxford Elementary School accounts for $4.2 million of the estimate.

Oxford Middle School — which is set to be replaced within the next five years — and Oxford Hills Comprehensive High School maintenance needs are not included in the figures, although funds from the $2 million could be applied toward HVAC repairs needed in both facilities.

In other business, selectmen approve Daddy O’s liquor license renewal, Foothill Pharms’ marijuana cultivation facility license renewal and a mass gathering permit for July 2-3 at Oxford Plains Speedway.

Selectmen also cancelled the next selectmen’s meeting, scheduled for June 6, due to several conflicting schedules. The July 4, the selectmen’s meeting has been cancelled due to the Independence Day holiday. Garland said special meetings may be scheduled in the event that any urgent situations arise.