Town Administrator Aaron Patt said this year’s municipal portion of the town’s tax rate ended up being “a very soft landing” for residents.
During a town meeting in March, the municipal rate was projected to spike $1 as a way to put money into a capital reserve fund.
“This year there was a push to build some savings,” Patt said, adding those funds would be spread across eight different capital reserve funds. The municipal tax rate ended up jumping 73 cents.
Patt said the town was able to minimize its impact, in part, because it received revenue from the state.
The tax rate is also comprised of three other components, including local education, state education and county taxes.
A $1 million return from ConVal school district kept the local education rate from drastically increasing. The state education, and county portion of the tax rate largely remained the same as last year. The town’s final tax rate was set at $28.23.
“The taxpayers got very lucky in Greenfield,” Patt said.
The board also discussed wages and benefit packages for town employees.
The town has not had a wage or salary review since 2000, a process that is usually conducted every two years.
“We should find some sort of formula so that people know what to expect and can look forward and say ‘Do I want to stay in this job for another two to three years? Where will I be?’” said Chairwoman Margaret Charig Bliss.
Select Board member Robert Marshall said in addition to a salary scale, benefit packages should also be included in the conversation.
“If we want to attract quality employees, we have to make it worth their while to stay in town,” Marshall said.
Patt said the town does have a benefits handbook for employees. He said the town plans to collect data from a neighboring municipality as a way to move forward with the process.
Abby Kessler can be reached at 924-7172 or at akessler@ledgertranscript.com.