FARMINGTON — Franklin County commissioners voted 2-1 Monday night to approve a $1 million budget for the unorganized territory for 2017-18, county Clerk Julie Magoon said Tuesday.

The spending package did not include $100,000 for a proposed sheriff’s deputy and cruiser dedicated to patrolling the unorganized territory.

Commissioners Gary McGrane of Jay and Charles Webster of Farmington voted in favor of the proposal without the deputy and cruiser, while Chairman Clyde Barker voted against it, Magoon said.

Barker represents District 3, which includes all but two townships in the county and most towns in northern Franklin County. He had favored adding the position.

The proposed budget represents a $101,803 decrease from the current budget. The new budget will go to Marcia McInnis, Maine’s fiscal administrator of the unorganized territory.

Once the spending package is approved by the Legislature, it will go into effect July 1, 2017.

Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr. had proposed adding the deputy to provide additional protection and law enforcement presence to the people in northern Franklin County. The startup cost of $100,000 was slated to drop the following year to about $69,000 because a cruiser would not be needed each year.  

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