OXFORD — Town Manager Adam Garland presented a draft budget last Thursday that represents a 7% increase to last year, but contains capital investment flexibility that could result in a decrease of $150,000 to $300,000 to the bottom line.

Garland cautioned that Oxford needs to address growing demand for public safety calls to the Fire & Rescue Department, which relies on per diem staffing several hours a day.

He offered that adjustments to capital budgets and road maintenance could help resolve it without increasing annual town meeting appropriations.

March 6 marked the first joint meeting between the Board of Selectmen and budget committee.

Salary and health insurance expenses, as well as liability insurance, account for the bulk of Oxford’s proposed budget increases. Garland advised that he is applying a three percent cost of living increase for all employees, including those represented by unions now in contract negotiations.

Operating costs by department are also expected to increase.

The Oxford Town Office and Public Safety buildings need maintenance work.

Materials will also cost more — the Highway Department is already paying more for salt and sand. Chemicals used for wastewater treatment by the Sewer Department will go up as well. And transportation charges for bulk and demolition waste from the Transfer Station have regularly gone up.

Garland said a significant decrease in capital investment, which was over $1 million last year, will offset the overall increases.

Capital purchases on the draft budget stand at $468,808 for 2025-26. But Garland said paying for several capital items from Oxford’s fund balance policy account instead could reduce that amount by $233,000.

“We also have a list of roads to address through capital investment,” Garland told the board and committee. “We could create a new roads bond, which would make it possible to delay the first payment until next year.

“Passing a roads bond at town meeting will allow work to begin immediately. We would defer payments until late next year, and we would avoid overlapping payments with current bonds.”

Garland said expanding EMS staffing to full-time would add $195,000 to the department’s overall budget next year, but would be more than balanced by the savings from reducing capital expenditures.

“It is important to have the conversation about EMS staffing,” Garland said. “With this budget we can (expand it) and still decrease spending by $150,000 from this year.”

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