LIVERMORE FALLS — The selectmen’s proposed Police Department budget is at 384,096, $5,000 more than the current budget, for 2011-12.

That amount does not factor in benefits.

It is part of a proposed $2.2 million budget that voters will decide at the polls from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, at the town office.

The town office will be closed Tuesday for regular business.

The Budget Committee is recommending a no vote on Article 14. They instead would like to see $400,000 raised overall, which would include benefits. Voters do not have a choice of raising a different amount than selectmen’s proposal and can only vote yes or no. It is the way legal counsel advised the warrant be set up. A referendum format only allows for a yes or no answer. The Budget Committees recommendations do appear in the annual town report.

The committee would like to have the town contract out police services to the Androscoggin County Sheriff’s Department.

Selectmen recommend a yes vote on Article 14 for police services to stay local. The proposal includes eliminating the police administrative assistant position to keep a police officer in service to maintain adequate service. The person in the administrative position is expected to get a job in the town office in a shift of employees due to position changes.

Without the administrative assistant position, the lobby of the Police Department will be closed during the day after July 1. If someone needs to see an officer, they will need to use the call box on the wall at the ramp entrance to the station.

The selectmen included money under insurance in Article 32 for the proposed amount of $358,649, $13,828 more than the current year.

The Budget Committee recommends a no vote on Article 32. They recommend raising and appropriating $157,649 for the insurance budget.

The figure factors in eliminating benefits for both the Police Department and the Public Words Department employees. The Budget Committee would like to see the local public works services eliminated and the services contracted out.

Selectmen recommend $336,775 be raised and appropriated for Public Works services in Article 18, not factoring in insurance and other benefits. The Budget Committee recommends a no vote on Article 18. They recommend raising and appropriating $200,000 overall for the services, which includes outsourcing the department.

There is an article on the ballot that would allow the town to continue operating at the current year’s level, if any article fails, until a new budget is approved.

dperry@sunjournal.com