PARIS – Selectmen unanimously voted Monday to accept a $3.2 million budget for 2009-10, which would pay three clerks and the code enforcement officer for fewer hours per week.

Town Manager Sharon Jackson said administrative positions have been restructured, including a reduction in hours for several employees. The town clerk and two front office clerks will be reduced from 40 hours to 36 hours per week, while the code enforcement officer will be reduced from 40 hours per week to 32. Jackson, the town assessor, and the bookkeeper will remain at 40 hours per week. In addition, no overtime will be budgeted.

A clerk working part time between the police department and general assistance will work 18 hours to do the clerical functions of the assessor and 18 hours in general assistance. Another clerk will be hired at 35 hours a week to work at the police station.

One full-time position at the police station will be frozen, and a part-time recreation director position has been eliminated. The part-time position at the Highway Department will be reinstated due to the possible loss of jail trustee workers if the Oxford County Jail becomes a 72-hour holding facility.

Jackson said employees will be given a 3 percent salary increase across the board, with some exceptions. Jackson, who said she has received a $50-per-week salary increase for the past year, is set to receive a $75-per-week increase this year, from $1,158 to $1,233 per week. Assessor John Brushwein would receive a pay raise from $22.27 per hour to $24.05 per hour.

Fire Department expenses have increased from $202,575 to $221,181, mostly due to a nearly 16 percent increase in wages for fire calls. Jackson said the department is receiving more calls on average than the past two years.

Reserve funds for capital improvements and purchases have also risen from $20,000 to $36,500. The money would be used for several items, including the purchase of a new hydraulic cutting tool for the Fire Department, improvements at the town buildings, and the conversion of a police sport utility vehicle to a Fire Department vehicle.

Jackson said the town will see a savings in fuel costs, because it locked in a price for heating fuel at $2.05 per gallon. The price had previously been set at $3.98 per gallon.

Money for the Paris Public Library has risen by $7,677, while the Hamlin Memorial Library receives an additional $250. Both libraries had no budget increases last year.

The overall budget is $18,039 less than approved last year.

On April 2, the Budget Committee voted 7-1, with one abstention, to send the budget to the selectmen.

The town is expected to pay $219,364 for its county assessment and $2.15 million as its share to SAD 17.

A public hearing on the municipal budget will be held at 7 p.m. on May 7 at the town office.