DEERFIELD — Selectboard members have requested a spike in their salaries in the FY2017 omnibus budget, though the Finance Committee recommends keeping it level funded.
The selectmen have been appropriated a collective $7,000 for the current fiscal year and have requested $16,000 for FY2017. This could be a bone of contention at annual town meeting, with a proposed omnibus budget of $13,475,859 that is $394,846 higher than the figure appropriated last year. This would be a 3 percent increase.
The requested increase in selectmen’s salaries may appear like an attempt by Selectboard members to hike their pay, but Carolyn Shores Ness said the goal is to make public service more appealing to younger people by lessening the financial burden that comes with it.
“It’s because I’m worried there isn’t enough interest in the job,” she said. “It’s a huge commitment.”
Town meeting is scheduled for the Frontier Regional School auditorium at 7 p.m. on Monday, April 25.
The selectboard’s requested budget for general government expenses is $867,414, as opposed to the $784,660 last year. The Finance Committee recommends $880,725 for general government, with higher spending sought in the town office expense, town office building maintenance, contracted services, and legal expense line items.
The figures requested by the selectmen includes a salary increase of $5,012 (to $41,406) for town accountant Brenda K. Hill. Interim Town Administrator Douglas C. Finn said Hill does a tremendous service for the town and her compensation should be more competitive. The finance committee recommends a salary of $37,647.
There is also a requested $1,002,424 for public safety expenses, up $95,591 from last year. Much of this is related to what appears to be a $37,120 increase in inspections department salaries. However, Finn explained this will be offset by a corresponding increase in inspection fee revenues.
A requested $52,991 in police payroll comes from the potential for a school resource officer.
You can reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 257. On Twitter, follow @DomenicPoli