Greenfield select board members were able to decrease its proposed 2017 budget by about $13,000 during a regular meeting Tuesday night.
The budget will sit at about $2.279 million going into the public budget hearing on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at 6:30 p.m.
Select board members were able to pull $3,000 from the Department of Public Works diesel fuel line during its meeting, an item that the department was able to come in under budget in the past.
The board decided to use $10,000 from its Capital Reserve Fund to help offset a spike in the town’s proposed budget.
During its meeting, the board broke out into a non-public session to discuss specific employee wages.
The board has struggled to reconcile pushing wages up to remain competitive with other similar-sized towns while keeping the budget as small as possible.
In the past, the town has used a scalpel on its budget in an attempt to keep costs low, but select board members argue that method, in certain instances, can end up hurting the town.
Select board members agree that keeping wages low could make the town a training ground for inexperienced workers.
Select board member Robert Marshall has argued in the past that good employees can save the town money in the long run.
On the other side, Chair Margaret Charig Bliss has said the town has to be cognizant of residents who are on a fixed income and can feel the strain on their wallet every time the tax rate increases.
The board has said it will engage in a comprehensive wage study in 2017 that will focus on longevity, merit, municipal market values, and other factors when setting wages for town employees.
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172, ext. 234 or akessler@ledgertranscript.com.