LIVERMORE FALLS — The Budget Committee on Tuesday night recommended cutting the proposed fiscal year 2017 budget by $134,951 to make the total budget $2.25 million.

The budget proposed by the Board of Selectmen is $2.38 million, up $7,378 from last year.

Budget Committee member Jackie Knight said not all members agreed on every item, but did vote as a group.

The committee removed all compensation for selectmen, kept wages for most town employees at last year’s rate, reduced insurance, reduced the sand account and cut $10,000 for police cruiser replacement from the capital improvement fund.

Board of Selectmen Chairwoman Louise Chabot said no town employees got raises last year. Union contracts were negotiated this year and wages for office employees were raised accordingly.

Budget Committee member Ann Souther said it would send the wrong message when people in charge of the town get raises while the townspeople can’t find jobs, businesses are closing and people can’t afford food.

“Our hands are tied,” Chabot said. “We don’t have control.”

She disagreed with Souther’s comment that the town is sinking. 

Selectman Mary Young said it would be violating a legal document to change the insurance rates paid by employees and cut that line by $63,600.

Later it was pointed out that health insurance costs actually went down, and it is the Maine State Retirement portion that increased.

The Budget Committee also recommended doing away with the plan to replace a police cruiser every three years and cut $10,000 from the capital improvement account.

Police Chief Ernest Steward Jr. said mileage builds up quickly and the cruiser wouldn’t be safe to drive in the third year. 

Young said not replacing the cruisers on schedule would lead to more maintenance and less money for trade-in. With only two vehicles on the street if one is gone, it’s a safety issue, she said.

Town Manager Kristal Flagg said the full-time treasurer’s position was reduced to part time in an effort to cut costs. 

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