ALFRED — York County residents with questions or comments on the proposed $19 million budget to operate York County government for the coming year may voice them Wednesday at a public hearing.

The session, scheduled by the York County Budget Committee, is set for 6:30 p.m. at York County Court House. After the public hearing is concluded, the Budget Committee may take a vote, or if they so choose, may vote at a later date.

As proposed, the budget is unchanged from the document initially approved by county commissioners earlier this year. The county budget panel perused the document over a series of meetings and heard presentations from some department heads.

Insurance costs are up about $90,000 from the current year and the dispatch contract with Sanford Regional Communication Center is up by about $92,000. Both increases are proposed to be funded through reserve accounts previously established for that purpose.

A part-time facilities management position is proposed to be increased to full-time. As well, a new, part-time clerk’s position is on tap for the district attorney’s office and is proposed to be paid through savings from relocating the district attorney’s Springvale office from commercial space to inside the court building.

A bid by Sheriff William King to increase the number of deputies in the rural patrol division received mixed views from the budget panel. Ultimately, the rural patrol budget included in the overall budget plan does not include additional personnel.

On the revenue side, the registry of deeds is projected to increase revenue by about $70,000 next year ”“ deeds recording revenues are projected to be up by about $100,000, while other deeds revenue streams are off a bit, resulting in the projected $70,000 gain.

Overall, the budget proposal is up 2.17 percent, or around $400,000 more than this year, but the assessment to the 29 York County municipalities is projected to be up by approximately $117,000, or about 3/4 of a percent.

According to documents prepared by the county government, York County’s 29 municipalities pay 84.27 percent of county government expense, with the remainder, 15.73 percent, coming from other revenue sources.

If the budget is approved as presented, some communities will pay more than this year, others less, due in part to the state valuation of each municipality. Among those poised to pay less are Biddeford, down by about $21,000; Lebanon, down $10,000; Sanford, down $28,000 and several others with decreases in the $1,000 to $6,000 range.

Other communities would pay more ”“ some significantly. Kennebunk’s share of the county budget would increase by about $32,000; Ogunquit by about $21,000, Old Orchard Beach by $15,000; Wells by $77,000 and York by $29,000, plus increases of lesser amounts in other municipalities.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.