MEXICO — Citizens went to the polls in Mexico on Tuesday and voted 112-306 not to have their police coverage provided by the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department.
When notified of the vote, Mexico police Chief Roy Hodsdon said, “I can breathe now.”
This vote also means that Rumford will also continue with their local department, regardless of the vote in that town. That’s because both towns had to approve the proposal, which was to serve both Rumford and Mexico.
Since September 2013, Rumford and Mexico officials have been looking at ways to consolidate services and save money. They hired Municipal Resources, a consulting company from New Hampshire, which said both towns could save money by merging.
In November 2014, Oxford County Sheriff Wayne Gallant presented a two-year contract proposal to serve the towns of Rumford and Mexico after being asked to do so. He said it would cost the towns $1.32 million the first year and $1.18 million the second year. The proposal would provide 12 deputies to cover both towns.
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